Novel compounds useful for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases

ABSTRACT

A novel [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine compound is disclosed that has a formula represented by the following: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     This compound may be prepared as a pharmaceutical composition, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn&#39;s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection) and proliferative diseases.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/135,920, filed Jul. 25, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/220,685, filed Jun. 26, 2009, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds that are inhibitors of JAK, a family of tyrosine kinases that are involved in the modulation of the degradation of cartilage, joint degeneration and diseases involving such degradation and/or inflammation. The present invention also provides methods for the production of these compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, endotoxin-driven disease states, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6, proliferative diseases and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection); and/or methods for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases involving cartilage degradation, joint degradation and/or inflammation by administering a compound of the invention.

Janus kinases (JAKs) are cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases that transduce cytokine signaling from membrane receptors to STAT transcription factors. Four JAK family members are described, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2. Upon binding of the cytokine to its receptor, JAK family members auto- and/or transphosphorylate each other, followed by phosphorylation of STATs that then migrate to the nucleus to modulate transcription. JAK-STAT intracellular signal transduction serves the interferons, most interleukins, as well as a variety of cytokines and endocrine factors such as EPO, TPO, GH, OSM, LIF, CNTF, GM-CSF, PRL Vainchenker W. et al. (2008).

The combination of genetic models and small molecule JAK inhibitor research revealed the therapeutic potential of several JAKs. JAK3 is validated by mouse and human genetics as an immune-suppression target (O'Shea J. et al. (2004)). JAK3 inhibitors were successfully taken into clinical development, initially for organ transplant rejection but later also in other immuno-inflammatory indications such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis and Crohn's disease (http://clinicaltrials.gov/).

TYK2 is a potential target for immuno-inflammatory diseases, being validated by human genetics and mouse knock-out studies (Levy D. and Loomis C. (2007)).

JAK1 is a novel target in the immuno-inflammatory disease area. JAK1 heterodimerizes with the other JAKs to transduce cytokine-driven pro-inflammatory signaling. Therefore, inhibition of JAK1 and/or other JAKs is expected to be of therapeutic benefit for a range of inflammatory conditions as well as for other diseases driven by JAK-mediated signal transduction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cartilage is an avascular tissue of which chondrocytes are the main cellular component. The chondrocytes in normal articular cartilage occupy approximately 5% of the tissue volume, while the extra-cellular matrix makes up the remaining 95% of the tissue. The chondrocytes secrete the components of the matrix, mainly proteoglycans and collagens, which in turn supply the chondrocytes with an environment suitable for their survival under mechanical stress. In cartilage, collagen type II, together with the protein collagen type IX, is arranged in solid fibril-like structures which provide cartilage with great mechanical strength. The proteoglycans can absorb water and are responsible for the resilient and shock absorbing properties of the cartilage.

One of the functional roles of cartilage in the joint is to allow bones to articulate on each other smoothly. Loss of articular cartilage, therefore, causes the bones to rub against each other leading to pain and loss of mobility. The degradation of cartilage can have various causes. In inflammatory arthritides, as rheumatoid arthritis for example, cartilage degradation is caused by the secretion of proteases (e.g. collagenases) by inflamed tissues (the inflamed synovium for example). Cartilage degradation can also be the result of an injury of the cartilage, due to an accident or surgery, or exaggerated loading or ‘wear and tear’. The ability of cartilage tissue to regenerate after such insults is limited. Chondrocytes in injured cartilage often display reduced cartilage synthesizing (anabolic) activity and/or increased cartilage degrading (catabolic) activity.

The degeneration of cartilage is the hallmark of various diseases, among which rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most prominent. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic joint degenerative disease, characterized by inflammation and destruction of the joint structures. When the disease is unchecked, it leads to substantial disability and pain due to loss of joint functionality and even premature death. The aim of an RA therapy, therefore, is not only to slow down the disease but to attain remission in order to stop the joint destruction. Besides the severity of the disease outcome, the high prevalence of RA (˜0.8% of the adults are affected worldwide) means a high socioeconomic impact. (For reviews on RA, we refer to Smolen and Steiner (2003); Lee and Weinblatt (2001); Choy and Panayi (2001); O'Dell (2004) and Firestein (2003)).

Osteoarthritis (also referred to as OA, or wear-and-tear arthritis) is the most common form of arthritis and is characterized by loss of articular cartilage, often associated with hypertrophy of the bone and pain. The disease mainly affects hands and weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips and spines. This process thins the cartilage. When the surface area has disappeared due to the thinning, a grade I osteoarthritis is reached; when the tangential surface area has disappeared, grade II osteoarthritis is reached. There are further levels of degeneration and destruction, which affect the deep and the calcified cartilage layers that border with the subchondral bone. For an extensive review on osteoarthritis, we refer to Wieland et al., 2005.

The clinical manifestations of the development of the osteoarthritis condition are: increased volume of the joint, pain, crepitation and functional disability that lead to pain and reduced mobility of the joints. When disease further develops, pain at rest emerges. If the condition persists without correction and/or therapy, the joint is destroyed leading to disability. Replacement surgery with total prosthesis is then required.

Therapeutic methods for the correction of the articular cartilage lesions that appear during the osteoarthritic disease have been developed, but so far none of them have been able to mediate the regeneration of articular cartilage in situ and in vivo.

Osteoarthritis is difficult to treat. At present, no cure is available and treatment focuses on relieving pain and preventing the affected joint from becoming deformed. Common treatments include the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Although dietary supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine sulphate have been advocated as safe and effective options for the treatment of osteoarthritis, a recent clinical trial revealed that both treatments did not reduce pain associated to osteoarthritis. (Clegg et al., 2006). Taken together, no disease modifying osteoarthritic drugs are available.

In severe cases, joint replacement may be necessary. This is especially true for hips and knees. If a joint is extremely painful and cannot be replaced, it may be fused. This procedure stops the pain, but results in the permanent loss of joint function, making walking and bending difficult.

Another possible treatment is the transplantation of cultured autologous chondrocytes. Here, chondral cellular material is taken from the patient, sent to a laboratory where it is expanded. The material is then implanted in the damaged tissues to cover the tissue's defects.

Another treatment includes the intra-articular instillation of Hylan G-F 20 (e.g. Synvisc#, Hyalgan®, Artz®), a substance that improves temporarily the rheology of the synovial fluid, producing an almost immediate sensation of free movement and a marked reduction of pain.

Other reported methods include application of tendinous, periosteal, fascial, muscular or perichondral grafts; implantation of fibrin or cultured chondrocytes; implantation of synthetic matrices, such as collagen, carbon fiber; administration of electromagnetic fields. All of these have reported minimal and incomplete effects, resulting in a poor quality tissue that can neither support the weighted load nor allow the restoration of an articular function with normal movement.

Stimulation of the anabolic processes, blocking catabolic processes, or a combination of these two, may result in stabilization of the cartilage, and perhaps even reversion of the damage, and therefore prevent further progression of the disease. Various triggers may stimulate anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is the predominant anabolic growth factor in synovial fluid and stimulates the synthesis of both proteoglycans and collagen. It has also been shown that members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family, notably BMP2, BMP4, BMP6, and BMP7, and members of the human transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family can induce chondrocyte anabolic stimulation (Chubinskaya and Kuettner, 2003). A compound has recently been identified that induces anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes (U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,854; EP 1 391 211). However, most of these compounds show severe side effects and, consequently, there is a strong need for compounds that stimulate chondrocyte differentiation without these side effects.

Vandeghinste et al. (WO 2005/124342) discovered JAK1 as a target whose inhibition might have therapeutic relevance for several diseases including OA. JAK1 belongs to the Janus kinase (JAK) family of cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases, involved in cytokine receptor-mediated intracellular signal transduction. The JAK family consists of 4 members: JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2. JAKs are recruited to cytokine receptors, upon binding of the cytokine, followed by heterodimerization of the cytokine receptor and a shared receptor subunit (common gamma-c chain, gp130). JAKs are then activated by auto- and/or transphosphorylation by another JAK, resulting in phosphorylation of the receptors and recruitment and phosphorylation of members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STATs). Phosphorylated STATs dimerize and translocate to the nucleus where they bind to enhancer regions of cytokine-responsive genes. Knockout of the JAK1 gene in mice demonstrated that JAK1 plays essential and nonredundant roles during development: JAK1−/− mice died within 24 h after birth and lymphocyte development was severely impaired. Moreover, JAK1−/− cells were not, or less, reactive to cytokines that use class II cytokine receptors, cytokine receptors that use the gamma-c subunit for signaling and the family of cytokine receptors that use the gp130 subunit for signaling (Rodig et al., 1998).

Various groups have implicated JAK-STAT signaling in chondrocyte biology. Li et al. (2001) showed that Oncostatin M induces MMP and TIMP3 gene expression in primary chondrocytes by activation of JAK/STAT and MAPK signaling pathways. Osaki et al. (2003) showed that interferon-gamma mediated inhibition of collagen II in chondrocytes involves JAK-STAT signaling. IL1-beta induces cartilage catabolism by reducing the expression of matrix components, and by inducing the expression of collagenases and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), which mediates the production of nitric oxide (NO). Otero et al., (2005) showed that leptin and IL1-beta synergistically induced NO production or expression of NOS2 mRNA in chondrocytes, and that that was blocked by a JAK inhibitor. Legendre et al. (2003) showed that IL6/IL6Receptor induced downregulation of cartilage-specific matrix genes collagen II, aggrecan core and link protein in bovine articular chondrocytes, and that this was mediated by JAK/STAT signaling. Therefore, these observations suggest a role for JAK kinase activity in cartilage homeostasis and therapeutic opportunities for JAK kinase inhibitors.

JAK family members have been implicated in additional conditions including myeloproliferative disorders (O'Sullivan et al, 2007, Mol Immunol. 44(10):2497-506), where mutations in JAK2 have been identified. This indicates that inhibitors of JAK in particular JAK2 may also be of use in the treatment of myeloproliferative disorders. Additionally, the JAK family, in particular JAK1, JAK2 and JAK3, has been linked to cancers, in particular leukaemias e.g. acute myeloid leukaemia (O'Sullivan et al, 2007, Mol Immunol. 44(10):2497-506; Xiang et al., 2008, “Identification of somatic JAK1 mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia” Blood First Edition Paper, prepublished online Dec. 26, 2007; DOI 10.1182/blood-2007-05-090308) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Mullighan et al, 2009) or solid tumours e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma (Constantinescu et al., 2007, Trends in Biochemical Sciences 33(3): 122-131), prostate cancer (Tam et al., 2007, British Journal of Cancer, 97, 378-383) These results indicate that inhibitors of JAK, in particular of JAK1 and/or JAK2, may also have utility in the treatment of cancers (leukaemias and solid tumours e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer).

In addition, Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, psoriasis, and Kaposi's sarcoma are likely due to hypersecretion of the cytokine IL-6, whose biological effects are mediated by intracellular JAK-STAT signaling (Tetsuji Naka, Norihiro Nishimoto and Tadamitsu Kishimoto, Arthritis Res 2002, 4 (suppl 3):S233-S242). This result shows that inhibitor of JAK, may also find utility in the treatment of said diseases.

A link with autoimmune diseases has been established for JAK3 and Tyk2. Mutations in JAK3 but also in the upstream signaling components gamma-c receptor chain and IL7 receptor account in aggregate for ˜70% of cases of human severe combined immunodeficiency ('OShea et al., 2004). Note that JAK1 cooperates with JAK3 in transducing signals from the gamma-c receptor chain. Tyk2 polymorphisms are seen in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (O'Sullivan et al, 2007, Mol Immunol. 44(10):2497-506). Hence, targeting the JAK family may provide a therapeutic opportunity in the immuno-inflammation area.

The current therapies are not satisfactory and therefore there remains a need to identify further compounds that may be of use in the treatment of diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection). Inhibitors of JAK can also find application in the treatment of proliferative diseases. In particular the inhibitors of JAK find application in the treatment of cancers, especially leukaemias and solid tumours (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer). The present invention therefore provides compounds, methods for their manufacture and a pharmaceutical comprising a compound of the invention together with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. The present invention also provides for the use of a compound of the invention in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of degenerative joint diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the discovery that inhibitors of JAK are useful for the treatment of diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection). Inhibitors of JAK can also find application in the treatment of proliferative diseases. In particular the inhibitors of JAK find application in the treatment of cancers, especially leukaemias and solid tumours (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer). The present invention also provides methods for the production of these compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods for treating diseases involving cartilage degradation, joint degradation and/or inflammation by administering a compound of the invention.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine compounds are disclosed having a Formula (I):

wherein

-   -   Cy1 is selected from aryl and heteroaryl;     -   L1 is selected from a single bond, —O—, —C(O)—, —C[═N(R^(4a))]—,         —N(R^(4a))—, —CON(R^(4a))—, —SO₂N(R^(4a))—, —S(O)₂—,         —N(R^(4a))CO—, or —N(R^(4a))SO₂—;     -   each R¹ is independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted         C₁-C₆ alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted or         unsubstituted acylamino, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆         alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted amido, substituted or         unsubstituted amino, substituted sulfinyl, substituted sulfonyl,         substituted or unsubstituted aminosulfonyl, sulfonic acid,         sulfonic acid ester, carboxy, cyano, substituted or         unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7         membered heterocycloalkyl, halo, and hydroxyl;     -   each R^(3a) is independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl,         substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted or         unsubstituted acylamino, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆         alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted amido, alkoxycarbonyl,         substituted alkoxycarbonyl, arylalkyloxy, substituted         arylalkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted amino, aryl,         substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted sulfanyl, substituted         sulfinyl, substituted sulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted         aminosulfonyl, sulfonic acid, sulfonic acid ester, azido,         carboxy, cyano, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl,         substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl,         halo, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, hydroxyl, nitro,         and thiol;     -   R^(2a) is selected from substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl         or substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl;     -   R^(3b) is independently selected from substituted or         unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇         cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered         heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered         heteroaryl; or R^(3b) is independently selected from O—R^(3c),         CO—R^(3c), and CON(R^(4a))—R^(3c); and R^(3c) is independently         selected from substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or         unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7         membered heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10         membered heteroaryl;     -   each R^(4a), R^(4b) and R^(4c) is independently selected from H,         C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, or         substituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl;     -   m1 is 0, 1, or 2; m2 is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and n1 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or         4;     -   provided that         -   when L1 is —O—, —N(R^(4a))—, —CON(R^(4a))—, or             —SO₂N(R^(4a))—, and R^(3b) is other than cycloalkyl, aryl or             5-10 membered heteroaryl, then n1 is 1, 2, 3, or 4;             or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof or             solvates of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

In a more particular embodiment, the compound is according to Formula VIa:

-   -   or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof or a         solvate of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the invention, and a pharmaceutical carrier, excipient or diluent. In this aspect of the invention, the pharmaceutical composition can comprise one or more of the compounds described herein. Moreover, the compounds of the present invention useful in the pharmaceutical compositions and treatment methods disclosed herein, are all pharmaceutically acceptable as prepared and used.

In a further aspect of the invention, this invention provides a method of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a condition from among those listed herein, and particularly, such condition as may be associated with aberrant JAK activity, for example diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection). Inhibitors of JAK can also find application in the treatment of proliferative diseases. In particular the inhibitors of JAK find application in the treatment of cancers, especially leukaemias and solid tumours (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer). In a particular embodiment the present invention provides a method for treating conditions selected from inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Crohn's disease, colitis), endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), and organ transplant rejection; and cartilage, bone and/or joint degradation or degeneration, such as osteoarthritis, which method comprises administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with proliferative disorders in particular cancer, (e.g. solid tumours), leukaemias, multiple myeloma or psoriasis, which method comprises administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment or prevention of a condition selected from those listed herein, particularly such conditions as may be associated with aberrant JAK activity such as diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection). Inhibitors of JAK can also find application in the treatment of proliferative diseases. In particular the inhibitors of JAK find application in the treatment of cancers, especially leukaemias and solid tumours (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer). In a specific embodiment, the condition is selected from inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Crohn's disease, colitis), endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), and organ transplant rejection; and cartilage, bone and/or joint degradation or degeneration, such as osteoarthritis.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment or prevention of proliferative disorders, in particular cancer, (e.g. solid tumours), leukaemias, multiple myeloma or psoriasis.

In yet another method of treatment aspect, this invention provides a method for treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a condition that is causally related to abnormal JAK activity as described herein, and comprises administering an effective condition-treating or condition-preventing amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment or prevention of a condition that is causally related to abnormal JAK activity.

In additional aspects, this invention provides methods for synthesizing the compounds of the invention, with representative synthetic protocols and pathways disclosed later on herein.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel series of compounds, which can modify the activity of JAK and thus prevent or treat any maladies that may be causally related thereto.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a series of compounds that can treat or alleviate maladies or symptoms of same, such as cartilage and/or bone degradation and related inflammation, and joint diseases, that may be causally related to the activity of JAK.

A still further object of this invention is to provide pharmaceutical compositions that may be used in the treatment or prevention of a variety of disease states, including the diseases associated with JAK activity such as diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection). Inhibitors of JAK can also find application in the treatment of proliferative diseases. In particular the inhibitors of JAK find application in the treatment of cancers, especially leukaemias and solid tumours (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer). In a specific embodiment the condition is selected from inflammation, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), and organ transplant rejection; and cartilage, bone and/or joint degradation or degeneration, such as osteoarthritis or cancers (e.g. solid tumours or leukaemias).

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the ensuing detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

The following terms are intended to have the meanings presented therewith below and are useful in understanding the description and intended scope of the present invention.

When describing the invention, which may include compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods of using such compounds and compositions, the following terms, if present, have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated. It should also be understood that when described herein any of the moieties defined forth below may be substituted with a variety of substituents, and that the respective definitions are intended to include such substituted moieties within their scope as set out below. Unless otherwise stated, the term “substituted” is to be defined as set out below. It should be further understood that the terms “groups” and “radicals” can be considered interchangeable when used herein.

The articles “a” and “an” may be used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e. at least one) of the grammatical objects of the article. By way of example “an analogue” means one analogue or more than one analogue.

‘Acyl’ or ‘Alkanoyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)R²⁰, where R²⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylmethyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, formyl, acetyl, cyclohexylcarbonyl, cyclohexylmethylcarbonyl, benzoyl and benzylcarbonyl. Exemplary ‘acyl’ groups are —C(O)H, —C(O)—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4.

‘Substituted Acyl’ or ‘Substituted Alkanoyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)R²¹, wherein R²¹ is independently

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, each of         which is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Acylamino’ refers to a radical —NR²²C(O)R²³, where R²² is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl and R²³ is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, as defined herein. Exemplary ‘acylamino’ include, but are not limited to, formylamino, acetylamino, cyclohexylcarbonylamino, cyclohexylmethyl-carbonylamino, benzoylamino and benzylcarbonylamino. Exemplary ‘acylamino’ groups are —NR^(21′)C(O)—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —NR^(21′)C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —NR^(21′)C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —NR^(21′)C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —NR^(21′)C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4, each R^(21′) independently represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl.

‘Substituted Acylamino’ refers to a radical —NR²⁴C(O)R²⁵, wherein:

R²⁴ is independently

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, each of         which is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy; and

R²⁵ is independently

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, each of         which is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxyl;

provided at least one of R²⁴ and R²⁵ is other than H.

‘Alkoxy’ refers to the group —OR²⁶ where R²⁶ is C₁-C₈ alkyl. Particular alkoxy groups are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, tert-butoxy, sec-butoxy, n-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, and 1,2-dimethylbutoxy. Particular alkoxy groups are lower alkoxy, i.e. with between 1 and 6 carbon atoms. Further particular alkoxy groups have between 1 and 4 carbon atoms.

‘Substituted alkoxy’ refers to an alkoxy group substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an alkoxy group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent, selected from the group consisting of amino, substituted amino, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, —O-aryl, carboxyl, cyano, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, halogen, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, hydroxyl, nitro, thioalkoxy, thio-O-aryl, thiol, alkyl-S(O)—, aryl-S(O)—, alkyl-S(O)₂— and aryl-S(O)₂—. Exemplary ‘substituted alkoxy’ groups are —O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —O—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —O—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. Particular exemplary ‘substituted alkoxy’ groups are OCF₃, OCH₂CF₃, OCH₂Ph, OCH₂-cyclopropyl, OCH₂CH₂OH, OCH₂CH₂NMe₂.

‘Alkoxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR²⁷ where R²⁷ represents an C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkylalkyl, aralkyl, or 5-10 membered heteroarylalkyl as defined herein. Exemplary ‘alkoxycarbonyl’ groups are C(O)O—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 1 to 4.

‘Substituted Alkoxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR²⁸ where R²⁸ represents:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylalkyl, or 4-10         membered heterocycloalkylalkyl, each of which is substituted         with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₆-C₁₀ aralkyl, or 5-10 membered heteroarylalkyl, each of which         is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxyl.

‘Alkyl’ means straight or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Particular alkyl has 1 to 12 carbon atoms. More particular is lower alkyl which has 1 to 6 carbon atoms. A further particular group has 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Exemplary straight chained groups include methyl, ethyl n-propyl, and n-butyl. Branched means that one or more lower alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl is attached to a linear alkyl chain, exemplary branched chain groups include isopropyl, iso-butyl, t-butyl and isoamyl.

‘Substituted alkyl’ refers to an alkyl group as defined above substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an alkyl group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent, selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy (—O-acyl or —OC(O)R²⁰), alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino (—NR″-alkoxycarbonyl or —NH—C(O)—OR²⁷), amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl (carbamoyl or amido or —C(O)—NR″₂), aminocarbonylamino (—NR″—C(O)—NR″₂), aminocarbonyloxy (—O—C(O)—NR″₂), aminosulfonyl, sulfonylamino, aryl, —O-aryl, azido, carboxyl, cyano, cycloalkyl, halogen, hydroxy, heteroaryl, nitro, thiol, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, —S(O)-alkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)₂-alkyl, and —S(O)₂-aryl. In a particular embodiment ‘substituted alkyl’ refers to a C₁-C₈ alkyl group substituted with halo, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR′″SO₂R″, —SO₂NR′R′″, —C(O)R″, —C(O)OR″, —OC(O)R″, —NR′″C(O)R″, —C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″R′″, or —(CR′″R″″)_(m)OR′″; wherein each R″ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. Each of R′″ and R″″ independently represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl.

‘Amino’ refers to the radical —NH₂.

‘Substituted amino’ refers to an amino group substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of ‘substituted’ herein, and particularly refers to the group —N(R³³)₂ where each R³³ is independently selected from:

-   -   hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl,         4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, or C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl),         —(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl) or —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered         heterocycloalkyl) wherein t is an integer between 0 and 8, each         of which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy; or     -   both R³³ groups are joined to form an alkylene group.     -   When both R³³ groups are hydrogen, —N(R³³)₂ is an amino group.         Exemplary ‘substituted amino’ groups are —NR^(33′)—C₁-C₈ alkyl,         —NR^(33′)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —NR^(33′)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10         membered heteroaryl), —NR^(33′)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl),         and —NR^(33′)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein         t is an integer from 0 to 4, each R^(33′) independently         represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl; and any alkyl groups present, may         themselves be substituted by halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or         heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted         by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl,         or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Aminosulfonyl’ or ‘Sulfonamide’ refers to the radical —S(O₂)NH₂.

‘Substituted aminosulfonyl’ or ‘substituted sulfonamide’ refers to a radical such as —S(O₂)N(R⁴⁸)₂ wherein each R⁴⁸ is independently selected from:

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered         heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered         heteroaryl, and heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, substituted         by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl,         or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy;

provided that at least one R⁴⁸ is other than H.

Exemplary ‘substituted aminosulfonyl’ or ‘substituted sulfonamide’ groups are —S(O₂)N(R^(48′))—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —S(O₂)N(R^(48′))—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O₂)N(R^(48′))—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O₂)N(R^(48′))—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O₂)N(R^(48′))—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4; each R^(48′) independently represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl; and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Aralkyl’ or ‘arylalkyl’ refers to an alkyl group, as defined above, substituted with one or more aryl groups, as defined above. Particular aralkyl or arylalkyl groups are alkyl groups substituted with one aryl group.

‘Substituted Aralkyl’ or ‘substituted arylalkyl’ refers to an alkyl group, as defined above, substituted with one or more aryl groups; and at least one of any aryl group present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, cyano, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Aryl’ refers to a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent aromatic ring system. In particular aryl refers to an aromatic ring structure, mono-cyclic or poly-cyclic that includes from 5 to 12 ring members, more usually 6 to 10. Where the aryl group is a monocyclic ring system it preferentially contains 6 carbon atoms. Typical aryl groups include, but are not limited to, groups derived from aceanthrylene, acenaphthylene, acephenanthrylene, anthracene, azulene, benzene, chrysene, coronene, fluoranthene, fluorene, hexacene, hexaphene, hexylene, as-indacene, s-indacene, indane, indene, naphthalene, octacene, octaphene, octalene, ovalene, penta-2,4-diene, pentacene, pentalene, pentaphene, perylene, phenalene, phenanthrene, picene, pleiadene, pyrene, pyranthrene, rubicene, triphenylene and trinaphthalene. Particularly aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, indenyl, and tetrahydronaphthyl.

‘Substituted Aryl’ refers to an aryl group substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of ‘substituted’ herein, and particularly refers to an aryl group that may optionally be substituted with 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, particularly 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent. Particularly, ‘Substituted Aryl’ refers to an aryl group substituted with one or more of groups selected from halo, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, and amino.

Examples of Representative Substituted Aryls Include the Following

In these formulae one of R⁴⁹ and R⁵⁰ may be hydrogen and at least one of R⁴⁹ and R⁵⁰ is each independently selected from C₁-C₈ alkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, alkanoyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, hetero-O-aryl, alkylamino, arylamino, heteroarylamino, NR⁵¹COR⁵², NR⁵¹SOR⁵²NR⁵¹SO₂R⁵², COOalkyl, COOaryl, CONR⁵¹R⁵², CONR⁵¹OR⁵², NR⁵¹R⁵², SO₂NR⁵¹R⁵², S-alkyl, SOalkyl, SO₂alkyl, Saryl, SOaryl, SO₂aryl; or R⁴⁹ and R⁵⁰ may be joined to form a cyclic ring (saturated or unsaturated) from 5 to 8 atoms, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms selected from the group N, O or S. R⁵¹, and R⁵² are independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, substituted aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl.

‘Arylalkyloxy’ refers to an —O-alkylaryl radical where alkylaryl is as defined herein.

‘Substituted Arylalkyloxy’ refers to an —O-alkylaryl radical where alkylaryl is as defined herein; and any aryl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, cyano, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Azido’ refers to the radical —N₃.

‘Carbamoyl or amido’ refers to the radical —C(O)NH₂.

‘Substituted Carbamoyl or substituted amido’ refers to the radical —C(O)N(R⁵³)₂ wherein each R⁵³ is independently

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered         heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered         heteroaryl, and heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy;

provided that at least one R⁵³ is other than H.

Exemplary ‘Substituted Amido/Carbamoyl’ groups are —C(O)NR^(53′)—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C(O)NR^(53′)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)N^(53′)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —C(O)NR^(53′)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —C(O)NR^(53′)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4, each R^(53′) independently represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Carboxy’ refers to the radical —C(O)OH.

‘Cycloalkyl’ refers to cyclic non-aromatic hydrocarbyl groups having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms. Such cycloalkyl groups include, by way of example, single ring structures such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl.

‘Substituted cycloalkyl’ refers to a cycloalkyl group as defined above substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of ‘substituted’ herein, and particularly refers to a cycloalkyl group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent.

‘Cyano’ refers to the radical —CN.

‘Halo’ or ‘halogen’ refers to fluoro (F), chloro (Cl), bromo (Br) and iodo (I). Particular halo groups are either fluoro or chloro.

‘Hetero’ when used to describe a compound or a group present on a compound means that one or more carbon atoms in the compound or group have been replaced by a nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur heteroatom. Hetero may be applied to any of the hydrocarbyl groups described above such as alkyl, e.g. heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, e.g. heterocycloalkyl, aryl, e.g. heteroaryl, cycloalkenyl, e.g. cycloheteroalkenyl, and the like having from 1 to 5, and particularly from 1 to 3 heteroatoms.

‘Heteroaryl’ means an aromatic ring structure, mono-cyclic or polycyclic, that includes one or more heteroatoms and 5 to 12 ring members, more usually 5 to 10 ring members. The heteroaryl group can be, for example, a five membered or six membered monocyclic ring or a bicyclic structure formed from fused five and six membered rings or two fused six membered rings or, by way of a further example, two fused five membered rings. Each ring may contain up to four heteroatoms typically selected from nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Typically the heteroaryl ring will contain up to 4 heteroatoms, more typically up to 3 heteroatoms, more usually up to 2, for example a single heteroatom. In one embodiment, the heteroaryl ring contains at least one ring nitrogen atom. The nitrogen atoms in the heteroaryl rings can be basic, as in the case of an imidazole or pyridine, or essentially non-basic as in the case of an indole or pyrrole nitrogen. In general the number of basic nitrogen atoms present in the heteroaryl group, including any amino group substituents of the ring, will be less than five. Examples of five membered monocyclic heteroaryl groups include but are not limited to pyrrole, furan, thiophene, imidazole, furazan, oxazole, oxadiazole, oxatriazole, isoxazole, thiazole, isothiazole, pyrazole, triazole and tetrazole groups. Examples of six membered monocyclic heteroaryl groups include but are not limited to pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine, pyrimidine and triazine. Particular examples of bicyclic heteroaryl groups containing a five membered ring fused to another five membered ring include but are not limited to imidazothiazole and imidazoimidazole. Particular examples of bicyclic heteroaryl groups containing a six membered ring fused to a five membered ring include but are not limited to benzfuran, benzthiophene, benzimidazole, benzoxazole, isobenzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzthiazole, benzisothiazole, isobenzofuran, indole, isoindole, isoindolone, indolizine, indoline, isoindoline, purine (e.g., adenine, guanine), indazole, pyrazolopyrimidine, triazolopyrimidine, benzodioxole and pyrazolopyridine groups. Particular examples of bicyclic heteroaryl groups containing two fused six membered rings include but are not limited to quinoline, isoquinoline, chroman, thiochroman, chromene, isochromene, chroman, isochroman, benzodioxan, quinolizine, benzoxazine, benzodiazine, pyridopyridine, quinoxaline, quinazoline, cinnoline, phthalazine, naphthyridine and pteridine groups. Particular heteroaryl groups are those derived from thiophene, pyrrole, benzothiophene, benzofuran, indole, pyridine, quinoline, imidazole, oxazole and pyrazine.

Examples of representative aryl having hetero atoms containing substitution include the following:

wherein each W is selected from C(R⁵⁴)₂, NR⁵⁴, O and S; and each Y is selected from carbonyl, NR⁵⁴, O and S; and R⁵⁴ is independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, and 5-10 membered heteroaryl.

Examples of representative heteroaryls include the following:

wherein each Y is selected from carbonyl, N, NR⁵⁵, O and S; and R⁵⁵ is independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, and 5-10 membered heteroaryl.

As used herein, the term ‘heterocycloalkyl’ refers to a 4-10 membered, stable heterocyclic non-aromatic ring and/or including rings containing one or more heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, fused thereto. A fused heterocyclic ring system may include carbocyclic rings and need only include one heterocyclic ring. Examples of heterocyclic rings include, but are not limited to, morpholine, piperidine (e.g. 1-piperidinyl, 2-piperidinyl, 3-piperidinyl and 4-piperidinyl), pyrrolidine (e.g. 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2-pyrrolidinyl and 3-pyrrolidinyl), pyrrolidone, pyran (2H-pyran or 4H-pyran), dihydrothiophene, dihydropyran, dihydrofuran, dihydrothiazole, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrothiophene, dioxane, tetrahydropyran (e.g. 4-tetrahydro pyranyl), imidazoline, imidazolidinone, oxazoline, thiazoline, 2-pyrazoline, pyrazolidine, piperazine, and N-alkyl piperazines such as N-methyl piperazine. Further examples include thiomorpholine and its S-oxide and S,S-dioxide (particularly thiomorpholine). Still further examples include azetidine, piperidone, piperazone, and N-alkyl piperidines such as N-methyl piperidine. Particular examples of heterocycloalkyl groups are shown in the following illustrative examples:

wherein each W is selected from CR⁵⁶, C(R⁵⁶)₂, NR⁵⁶, O and S; and each Y is selected from NR⁵⁶, O and S; and R⁵⁶ is independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, These heterocycloalkyl rings may be optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy (—O-acyl or —OC(O)R²⁰), alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino (—NR″-alkoxycarbonyl or —NH—C(O)—OR²⁷), amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl (amido or —C(O)—NR″₂), aminocarbonylamino (—NR″—C(O)—NR″₂), aminocarbonyloxy (—O—C(O)—NR″₂), aminosulfonyl, sulfonylamino, aryl, —O-aryl, azido, carboxyl, cyano, cycloalkyl, halogen, hydroxy, nitro, thiol, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, —S(O)-alkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)₂-alkyl, and —S(O)₂-aryl. Substituting groups include carbonyl or thiocarbonyl which provide, for example, lactam and urea derivatives.

‘Hydroxy’ refers to the radical —OH.

‘Nitro’ refers to the radical —NO₂.

‘Substituted’ refers to a group in which one or more hydrogen atoms are each independently replaced with the same or different substituent(s). Typical substituents may be selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   halogen, —R⁵⁷, —O⁻, ═O, —OR⁵⁷, —SR⁵⁷, —S⁻, ═S, —NR⁵⁷R⁵⁸, ═NR⁵⁷,         —CCl₃, —CF₃, —CN, —OCN, —SCN, —NO, —NO₂, ═N₂, —N₃, —S(O)₂O⁻,         —S(O)₂OH, —S(O)₂R⁵⁷, —OS(O₂)O⁻, —OS(O)₂R⁵⁷, —P(O)(O⁻)₂,         —P(O)(OR⁵⁷)(O⁻), —OP(O)(OR⁵⁷)(OR⁵⁸), —C(O)R⁵⁷, —C(S)R⁵⁷,         —C(O)OR⁵⁷, —C(O)NR⁵⁷R⁵⁸, —C(O)O⁻, —C(S)OR⁵⁷, —NR⁵⁹C(O)NR⁵⁷R⁵⁸,         —NR⁵⁹C(S)NR⁵⁷R⁵⁸, —NR⁶⁰C(NR⁵⁹)NR⁵⁷R⁵⁸ and —C(NR⁵⁹)NR⁵⁷R⁵⁸;

wherein each R⁵⁷, R⁵⁸, R⁵⁹ and R⁶⁰ are independently:

-   -   hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, arylalkyl, C₃-C₁₀         cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, 5-10 membered         heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, C₆-C₁₀ cycloalkyl or 4-10         membered heterocycloalkyl substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄         alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted         C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.         In a particular embodiment, substituted groups are substituted         with one or more substituents, particularly with 1 to 3         substituents, in particular with one substituent group.

In a further particular embodiment the substituent group or groups are selected from: halo, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR′″SO₂R″, —SO₂NR″R′″, —C(O)R″, —C(O)OR″, —OC(O)R″, —NR′″C(O)R″, —C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″R′″, —(CR′″R′″)_(m)OR′″, wherein, each R″ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4; and

-   -   any alkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by halo         or hydroxy; and     -   any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups         present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄         alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted         C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. Each R″ independently represents H         or C₁-C₆alkyl.

‘Substituted sulfanyl’ refers to the group —SR⁶¹, wherein R⁶¹ is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘substituted sulfanyl’ groups are —S—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Substituted sulfinyl’ refers to the group —S(O)R⁶⁸, wherein R⁶⁸ is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, substituted         by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl,         or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘substituted sulfinyl’ groups are —S(O)—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S(O)—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Substituted sulfonyl’ refers to the group —S(O)₂R⁷⁵, wherein R⁷⁵ is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘substituted sulfonyl’ groups are —S(O)₂—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S(O)₂—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Sulfo’ or ‘sulfonic acid’ refers to a radical such as —SO₃H.

‘Substituted sulfo’ or ‘sulfonic acid ester’ refers to the group —S(O)₂OR⁸², wherein R⁸² is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘Substituted sulfo’ or ‘sulfonic acid ester’ groups are —S(O)₂—O—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S(O)₂—O—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Thiol’ refers to the group —SH.

One having ordinary skill in the art of organic synthesis will recognize that the maximum number of heteroatoms in a stable, chemically feasible heterocyclic ring, whether it is aromatic or non aromatic, is determined by the size of the ring, the degree of unsaturation and the valence of the heteroatoms. In general, a heterocyclic ring may have one to four heteroatoms so long as the heteroaromatic ring is chemically feasible and stable.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable’ means approved or approvable by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or the corresponding agency in countries other than the United States, or that is listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia or other generally recognized pharmacopoeia for use in animals, and more particularly, in humans.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable salt’ refers to a salt of a compound of the invention that is pharmaceutically acceptable and that possesses the desired pharmacological activity of the parent compound. In particular, such salts are non-toxic may be inorganic or organic acid addition salts and base addition salts. Specifically, such salts include: (1) acid addition salts, formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like; or formed with organic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, hexanoic acid, cyclopentanepropionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl) benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 1,2-ethane-disulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 4-toluenesulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid, 4-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid, glucoheptonic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, trimethylacetic acid, tertiary butylacetic acid, lauryl sulfuric acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, hydroxynaphthoic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, muconic acid, and the like; or (2) salts formed when an acidic proton present in the parent compound either is replaced by a metal ion, e.g., an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth ion, or an aluminum ion; or coordinates with an organic base such as ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-methylglucamine and the like. Salts further include, by way of example only, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, tetraalkylammonium, and the like; and when the compound contains a basic functionality, salts of non toxic organic or inorganic acids, such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, tartrate, mesylate, acetate, maleate, oxalate and the like. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable cation” refers to an acceptable cationic counter-ion of an acidic functional group. Such cations are exemplified by sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, tetraalkylammonium cations, and the like.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle’ refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient or carrier with which a compound of the invention is administered.

‘Prodrugs’ refers to compounds, including derivatives of the compounds of the invention, which have cleavable groups and become by solvolysis or under physiological conditions the compounds of the invention which are pharmaceutically active in vivo. Such examples include, but are not limited to, choline ester derivatives and the like, N-alkylmorpholine esters and the like.

‘Solvate’ refers to forms of the compound that are associated with a solvent, usually by a solvolysis reaction. This physical association includes hydrogen bonding. Conventional solvents include water, ethanol, acetic acid and the like. The compounds of the invention may be prepared e.g. in crystalline form and may be solvated or hydrated. Suitable solvates include pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, such as hydrates, and further include both stoichiometric solvates and non-stoichiometric solvates. In certain instances the solvate will be capable of isolation, for example when one or more solvent molecules are incorporated in the crystal lattice of the crystalline solid. ‘Solvate’ encompasses both solution-phase and isolable solvates. Representative solvates include hydrates, ethanolates and methanolates.

‘Subject’ includes humans. The terms ‘human’, ‘patient’ and ‘subject’ are used interchangeably herein.

‘Therapeutically effective amount’ means the amount of a compound that, when administered to a subject for treating a disease, is sufficient to effect such treatment for the disease. The “therapeutically effective amount” can vary depending on the compound, the disease and its severity, and the age, weight, etc., of the subject to be treated.

‘Preventing’ or ‘prevention’ refers to a reduction in risk of acquiring or developing a disease or disorder (i.e., causing at least one of the clinical symptoms of the disease not to develop in a subject that may be exposed to a disease-causing agent, or predisposed to the disease in advance of disease onset.

The term ‘prophylaxis’ is related to ‘prevention’, and refers to a measure or procedure the purpose of which is to prevent, rather than to treat or cure a disease. Non-limiting examples of prophylactic measures may include the administration of vaccines; the administration of low molecular weight heparin to hospital patients at risk for thrombosis due, for example, to immobilization; and the administration of an anti-malarial agent such as chloroquine, in advance of a visit to a geographical region where malaria is endemic or the risk of contracting malaria is high.

‘Treating’ or ‘treatment’ of any disease or disorder refers, in one embodiment, to ameliorating the disease or disorder (i.e., arresting the disease or reducing the manifestation, extent or severity of at least one of the clinical symptoms thereof). In another embodiment ‘treating’ or ‘treatment’ refers to ameliorating at least one physical parameter, which may not be discernible by the subject. In yet another embodiment, ‘treating’ or ‘treatment’ refers to modulating the disease or disorder, either physically, (e.g., stabilization of a discernible symptom), physiologically, (e.g., stabilization of a physical parameter), or both. In a further embodiment, ‘treating’ or ‘treatment’ relates to slowing the progression of the disease.

As used herein the term ‘condition(s) involving inflammation’ refers to the group of conditions including, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Crohn's disease, colitis), endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), and related diseases involving cartilage, such as that of the joints. Particularly the term refers to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma) and inflammatory bowel diseases.

As used herein the term ‘condition(s) involving an immune response’ or ‘autoimmune diseases’ are used interchangeably and refer to refers to the group of diseases including obstructive airways disease, including conditions such as COPD, asthma (e.g. intrinsic asthma, extrinsic asthma, dust asthma, infantily asthma) particularly chronic or inveterate asthma (for example late asthma and airway hyperreponsiveness), bronchitis, including bronchial asthma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes mellitus and complications associated therewith, atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis), contact dermatitis and further eczematous dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), atherosclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Particularly the term refers to COPD, asthma, systemic lupus erythematosis, type I diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease.

As used herein the term ‘transplantation rejection’ refers to the acute or chronic rejection of cells, tissue or solid organ allo- or xenografts of e.g. pancreatic islets, stem cells, bone marrow, skin, muscle, corneal tissue, neuronal tissue, heart, lung, combined heart-lung, kidney, liver, bowel, pancreas, trachea or oesophagus, or graft-versus-host diseases.

As used herein the term ‘proliferative disease(s)’ refers to conditions such as cancer (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer), myeloproliferative disorders (e.g. polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis and myelofibrosis), leukemia (e.g. acute myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia), multiple myeloma, psoriasis, restenosis, sclerodermitis or fibrosis. In particular the term refers to cancer, leukemia, multiple myeloma and psoriasis.

As used herein, the term ‘cancer’ refers to a malignant or benign growth of cells in skin or in body organs, for example but without limitation, breast, prostate, lung, kidney, pancreas, stomach or bowel. A cancer tends to infiltrate into adjacent tissue and spread (metastasise) to distant organs, for example to bone, liver, lung or the brain. As used herein the term cancer includes both metastatic rumour cell types, such as but not limited to, melanoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and mastocytoma and types of tissue carcinoma, such as but not limited to, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, renal cancer, gastric cancer, glioblastoma, primary liver cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and uterine leiomyosarcoma.

As used herein the term ‘leukaemia’ refers to neoplastic diseases of the blood and blood forming organs. Such diseases can cause bone marrow and immune system dysfunction, which renders the host highly susceptible to infection and bleeding. In particular the term leukemia refers to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

As used herein the term ‘diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover’ and specifically ‘diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes’ includes conditions such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, septic or infectious arthritis, reactive arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, algodystrophy, Tietze syndrome or costal chondritis, fibromyalgia, osteochondritis, neurogenic or neuropathic arthritis, arthropathy, endemic forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis deformans endemica, Mseleni disease and Handigodu disease; degeneration resulting from fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis.

As used herein the term ‘congenital cartilage malformation(s)’ includes conditions such as hereditary chondrolysis, chondrodysplasias and pseudochondrodysplasias, in particular, but without limitation, microtia, anotia, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, and related disorders.

As used herein the term ‘disease(s) associated with hypersecretion of IL6’ includes conditions such as Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma, psoriasis, Kaposi's sarcoma and/or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

‘Compound(s) of the invention’, and equivalent expressions, are meant to embrace compounds of the Formula (e) as hereinbefore described, which expression includes the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and the solvates, e.g., hydrates, and the solvates of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts where the context so permits. Similarly, reference to intermediates, whether or not they themselves are claimed, is meant to embrace their salts, and solvates, where the context so permits.

When ranges are referred to herein, for example but without limitation, C₁-C₈ alkyl, the citation of a range should be considered a representation of each member of said range.

Other derivatives of the compounds of the invention have activity in both their acid and acid derivative forms, but in the acid sensitive form often offers advantages of solubility, tissue compatibility, or delayed release in the mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, H., Design of Prodrugs, pp. 7-9, 21-24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1985). Prodrugs include acid derivatives well know to practitioners of the art, such as, for example, esters prepared by reaction of the parent acid with a suitable alcohol, or amides prepared by reaction of the parent acid compound with a substituted or unsubstituted amine, or acid anhydrides, or mixed anhydrides. Simple aliphatic or aromatic esters, amides and anhydrides derived from acidic groups pendant on the compounds of this invention are particularly useful prodrugs. In some cases it is desirable to prepare double ester type prodrugs such as (acyloxy)alkyl esters or ((alkoxycarbonyl)oxy)alkylesters. Particular such prodrugs are the C₁ to C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₂ substituted aryl, and C₇-C₁₂ arylalkyl esters of the compounds of the invention.

As used herein, the term ‘isotopic variant’ refers to a compound that contains unnatural proportions of isotopes at one or more of the atoms that constitute such compound. For example, an ‘isotopic variant’ of a compound can contain one or more non-radioactive isotopes, such as for example, deuterium (²H or D), carbon-13 (¹³C), nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N), or the like. It will be understood that, in a compound where such isotopic substitution is made, the following atoms, where present, may vary, so that for example, any hydrogen may be ²H/D, any carbon may be ¹³C, or any nitrogen may be ¹⁵N, and that the presence and placement of such atoms may be determined within the skill of the art. Likewise, the invention may include the preparation of isotopic variants with radioisotopes, in the instance for example, where the resulting compounds may be used for drug and/or substrate tissue distribution studies. The radioactive isotopes tritium, i.e. ³H, and carbon-14, i.e. ¹⁴C, are particularly useful for this purpose in view of their ease of incorporation and ready means of detection. Further, compounds may be prepared that are substituted with positron emitting isotopes, such as ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹⁵O and ¹³N, and would be useful in Positron Emission Topography (PET) studies for examining substrate receptor occupancy.

All isotopic variants of the compounds provided herein, radioactive or not, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

It is also to be understood that compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the nature or sequence of bonding of their atoms or the arrangement of their atoms in space are termed ‘isomers’. Isomers that differ in the arrangement of their atoms in space are termed ‘stereoisomers’.

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of one another are termed ‘diastereomers’ and those that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other are termed ‘enantiomers’. When a compound has an asymmetric center, for example, it is bonded to four different groups, a pair of enantiomers is possible. An enantiomer can be characterized by the absolute configuration of its asymmetric center and is described by the R- and S-sequencing rules of Cahn and Prelog, or by the manner in which the molecule rotates the plane of polarized light and designated as dextrorotatory or levorotatory (i.e., as (+) or (−)-isomers respectively). A chiral compound can exist as either individual enantiomer or as a mixture thereof. A mixture containing equal proportions of the enantiomers is called a ‘racemic mixture’.

‘Tautomers’ refer to compounds that are interchangeable forms of a particular compound structure, and that vary in the displacement of hydrogen atoms and electrons. Thus, two structures may be in equilibrium through the movement of π electrons and an atom (usually H). For example, enols and ketones are tautomers because they are rapidly interconverted by treatment with either acid or base. Another example of tautomerism is the aci- and nitro-forms of phenylnitromethane, that are likewise formed by treatment with acid or base.

Tautomeric forms may be relevant to the attainment of the optimal chemical reactivity and biological activity of a compound of interest.

The compounds of this invention may possess one or more asymmetric centers; such compounds can therefore be produced as individual (R)- or (S)-stereoisomers or as mixtures thereof.

Unless indicated otherwise, the description or naming of a particular compound in the specification and claims is intended to include both individual enantiomers and mixtures, racemic or otherwise, thereof. The methods for the determination of stereochemistry and the separation of stereoisomers are well-known in the art.

The Compounds

The present invention is based on the discovery that inhibitors of JAK are useful for the treatment of diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection). Inhibitors of JAK can also find application in the treatment of proliferative diseases. In particular the inhibitors of JAK find application in the treatment of cancers, especially leukaemias and solid tumours (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer). In particular diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation and/or inflammation, for example osteoarthritis. The present invention also provides methods for the production of these compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods for treating diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation and/or inflammation by administering a compound of the invention. The present compounds may be inhibitors of one or more members of the JAK family; specifically they may inhibit the activity of one or more of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and/or TYK2.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine compounds are disclosed having a Formula (I):

wherein

-   -   Cy1 is selected from aryl and heteroaryl;     -   L1 is selected from a single bond, —O—, —C(O)—, —C[═N(R^(4a))]—,         —N(R^(4a))—, —CON(R^(4a))—, —SO₂N(R^(4a))—, —S(O)₂—,         —N(R^(4a))CO—, or —N(R^(4a))SO₂—;     -   each R¹ is independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted         C₁-C₆ alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted or         unsubstituted acylamino, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆         alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted amido, substituted or         unsubstituted amino, substituted sulfinyl, substituted sulfonyl,         substituted or unsubstituted aminosulfonyl, sulfonic acid,         sulfonic acid ester, carboxy, cyano, substituted or         unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7         membered heterocycloalkyl, halo, and hydroxyl;     -   each R^(3a) is independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl,         substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted or         unsubstituted acylamino, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆         alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted amido, alkoxycarbonyl,         substituted alkoxycarbonyl, arylalkyloxy, substituted         arylalkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted amino, aryl,         substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted sulfanyl, substituted         sulfinyl, substituted sulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted         aminosulfonyl, sulfonic acid, sulfonic acid ester, azido,         carboxy, cyano, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl,         substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl,         halo, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, hydroxyl, nitro,         and thiol;     -   R^(2a) is selected from substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl         or substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl;     -   R^(3b) is independently selected from substituted or         unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇         cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered         heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered         heteroaryl; or R^(3b) is independently selected from O—R^(3c),         CO—R^(3c), and CON(R^(4a))—R^(3c); and R^(3c) is independently         selected from substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or         unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7         membered heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10         membered heteroaryl;     -   each R^(4a), R^(4b) and R^(4c) is independently selected from H,         C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, or         substituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl;     -   m1 is 0, 1, or 2; m2 is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and n1 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or         4;     -   provided that         -   when L1 is —O—, —N(R^(4a))—, —CON(R^(4a))—, or             —SO₂N(R^(4a))—, and R^(3b) is other than cycloalkyl, aryl or             5-10 membered heteroaryl, then n1 is 1, 2, 3, or 4;     -   or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof or         solvates of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

In one embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula I, m1 is 0.

In another embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula I, R^(2a) is substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl.

In a particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula I, R^(2a) is cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, or cyclopentyl.

In a further embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula I, R^(4b) and R^(4c) are independently selected from H and Me.

In a more particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula I, the compound is according to Formula II:

wherein Cy1, L1, R^(3a), R^(3b), m2, and n1 are as described previously.

In one embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula II, Cy1 is Ph; and m2 is 0.

In a more particular embodiment, the compound is according to Formula III:

wherein L1, R^(3b), and n1 are as above.

In one embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula III, R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl.

In a particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula III, L1 is selected from a single bond, —O—, —N(R^(4a))—, —C(O)—, C[═N(R^(4a))]—, —CON(R^(4a))—, —SO₂N(R^(4a))—, —S(O)₂—, —N(R^(4a))SO₂— and —N(R^(4a))CO—; n1 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl.

In one embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula III, L1 is selected from—a single bond, —O—, —N(R^(4a))—, —C(O)—, —C[═N(R^(4a))]—, —CON(R^(4a))—, —SO₂N(R^(4a))—, —S(O)₂—, —N(R^(4a))SO₂— and —N(R^(4a))CO—; n1 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered heteroaryl.

In a particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula III, L1 is selected from—a single bond, —O—, —N(R^(4a))—, —C(O)—, —C[═N(R^(4a))]—, —CON(R^(4a))—, —SO₂N(R^(4a))—, —S(O)₂—, —N(R^(4a))SO₂— and —N(R^(4a))CO—; n1 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted pyridyl, substituted or unsubstituted pyrrolyl, substituted or unsubstituted pyrazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted imidazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted triazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted tetrazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted oxazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted oxadiazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted thiazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted thiophenyl, substituted or unsubstituted indolyl, substituted or unsubstituted indazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzimidazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzofuranyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzodioxanyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzoxazolyl, substituted or unsubstituted quinolinyl, or substituted or unsubstituted isoquinolinyl.

In another particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula III, L1 is selected from —O—, and —N(R^(4a))—.

In another particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of Formula III, L1 is —O—.

In one embodiment, the compound is according to Formula III, and -Ph-L1-(CH₂)_(n1)—R^(3b) is selected from:

wherein n2 is n1; and R^(3b), and n1 are as in Formula I; and Cy3 is a substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen containing 4-7-membered heterocycloalkyl group.

In one embodiment, the compound is according to Formula III, and -Ph-L1-(CH₂)_(n1)—R^(3b) is:

wherein n2 is n1; and R^(3b), and n1 are as in Formula I.

In one embodiment, the compound is according to Formula III, and -Ph-L1-(CH₂)_(n1)—R^(3b) is:

wherein n2 is n1; R^(3b) is independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered heteroaryl; or R^(3b) is independently selected from O—R^(3c), CO—R^(3c), and CON(R^(4a))—R^(3c); and R^(3c) is independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and n1 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

In one embodiment, the compound is according to Formula III, and -Ph-L1-(CH₂)_(n1)—R^(3b) is:

wherein n2 is n1; R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and n1 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

In a more particular embodiment, the compound is according to Formulae VIa, VIb, VIc, or VId:

In a more particular embodiment, the compound is according to Formula VIa:

-   -   or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof or         solvates of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

In one embodiment the compound is not an isotopic variant.

In one embodiment, with respect to Formula I, the compound is selected from the compounds exemplified in Table 1.

In one embodiment, with respect to Formula I, the compound is compound 176 from Table 1.

In certain aspects, the present invention also provides prodrugs and derivatives of the compounds according to the Formula (e) above. Prodrugs are derivatives of the compounds of the invention, which have metabolically cleavable groups and become by solvolysis or under physiological conditions the compounds of the invention, which are pharmaceutically active, in vivo. Such examples include, but are not limited to, choline ester derivatives and the like, N-alkylmorpholine esters and the like.

Other derivatives of the compounds of the invention have activity in both their acid and acid derivative forms, but the acid sensitive form often offers advantages of solubility, tissue compatibility, or delayed release in the mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, H., Design of Prodrugs, pp. 7-9, 21-24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1985). Prodrugs include acid derivatives well know to practitioners of the art, such as, for example, esters prepared by reaction of the parent acid with a suitable alcohol, or amides prepared by reaction of the parent acid compound with a substituted or unsubstituted amine, or acid anhydrides, or mixed anhydrides. Simple aliphatic or aromatic esters, amides and anhydrides derived from acidic groups pendant on the compounds of this invention are preferred prodrugs. In some cases it is desirable to prepare double ester type prodrugs such as (acyloxy)alkyl esters or ((alkoxycarbonyl)oxy)alkylesters. Particularly useful are the C₁ to C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₂ substituted aryl, and C₇-C₁₂ arylalkyl esters of the compounds of the invention.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

When employed as pharmaceuticals, the compounds of the invention are typically administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition. Such compositions can be prepared in a manner well known in the pharmaceutical art and comprise at least one active compound. Generally, the compounds of this invention are administered in a pharmaceutically effective amount. The amount of the compound actually administered will typically be determined by a physician, in the light of the relevant circumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen route of administration, the actual compound-administered, the age, weight, and response of the individual patient, the severity of the patient's symptoms, and the like.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be administered by a variety of routes including oral, rectal, transdermal, subcutaneous, intra-articular, intravenous, intramuscular, and intranasal. Depending on the intended route of delivery, the compounds of this invention are preferably formulated as either injectable or oral compositions or as salves, as lotions or as patches all for transdermal administration

The compositions for oral administration can take the form of bulk liquid solutions or suspensions, or bulk powders. More commonly, however, the compositions are presented in unit dosage forms to facilitate accurate dosing. The term “unit dosage forms” refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for human subjects and other mammals, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect, in association with a suitable pharmaceutical excipient, vehicle or carrier. Typical unit dosage forms include prefilled, premeasured ampules or syringes of the liquid compositions or pills, tablets, capsules or the like in the case of solid compositions. In such compositions, the furansulfonic acid compound is usually a minor component (from about 0.1 to about 50% by weight or preferably from about 1 to about 40% by weight) with the remainder being various vehicles or carriers and processing aids helpful for forming the desired dosing form.

Liquid forms suitable for oral administration may include a suitable aqueous or nonaqueous vehicle with buffers, suspending and dispensing agents, colorants, flavors and the like. Solid forms may include, for example, any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

Injectable compositions are typically based upon injectable sterile saline or phosphate-buffered saline or other injectable carriers known in the art. As before, the active compound in such compositions is typically a minor component, often being from about 0.05 to 10% by weight with the remainder being the injectable carrier and the like.

Transdermal compositions are typically formulated as a topical ointment or cream containing the active ingredient(s), generally in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.1 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, and more preferably from about 0.5 to about 15% by weight. When formulated as a ointment, the active ingredients will typically be combined with either a paraffinic or a water-miscible ointment base. Alternatively, the active ingredients may be formulated in a cream with, for example an oil-in-water cream base. Such transdermal formulations are well-known in the art and generally include additional ingredients to enhance the dermal penetration of stability of the active ingredients or the formulation. All such known transdermal formulations and ingredients are included within the scope of this invention.

The compounds of the invention can also be administered by a transdermal device. Accordingly, transdermal administration can be accomplished using a patch either of the reservoir or porous membrane type, or of a solid matrix variety.

The above-described components for orally administrable, injectable or topically administrable compositions are merely representative. Other materials as well as processing techniques and the like are set forth in Part 8 of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th edition, 1985, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., which is incorporated herein by reference.

The compounds of this invention can also be administered in sustained release forms or from sustained release drug delivery systems. A description of representative sustained release materials can be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The following formulation examples illustrate representative pharmaceutical compositions that may be prepared in accordance with this invention. The present invention, however, is not limited to the following pharmaceutical compositions.

Formulation 1—Tablets

A compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a dry gelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ratio. A minor amount of magnesium stearate is added as a lubricant. The mixture is formed into 240-270 mg tablets (80-90 mg of active amide compound per tablet) in a tablet press.

Formulation 2—Capsules

A compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a starch diluent in an approximate 1:1 weight ratio. The mixture may be filled into 250 mg capsules (125 mg of active amide compound per capsule).

Formulation 3—Liquid

A compound of the invention (125 mg), may be admixed with sucrose (1.75 g) and xanthan gum (4 mg) and the resultant mixture may be blended, passed through a No. 10 mesh U.S. sieve, and then mixed with a previously made solution of microcrystalline cellulose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (11:89, 50 mg) in water. Sodium benzoate (10 mg), flavor, and color are diluted with water and added with stirring. Sufficient water may then be added with stirring. Sufficient water is then added to produce a total volume of 5 mL.

Formulation 4—Tablets

A compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a dry gelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ratio. A minor amount of magnesium stearate is added as a lubricant. The mixture is formed into 450-900 mg tablets (150-300 mg of active amide compound) in a tablet press.

Formulation 5—Injection

A compound of the invention may be dissolved or suspended in a buffered sterile saline injectable aqueous medium to a concentration of approximately 5 mg/mL.

Formulation 6—Topical

Stearyl alcohol (250 g) and a white petrolatum (250 g) are melted at about 75° C. and then a mixture of a compound of the invention (50 g) methylparaben (0.25 g), propylparaben (0.15 g), sodium lauryl sulfate (10 g), and propylene glycol (120 g) dissolved in water (about 370 g) is added and the resulting mixture is stirred until it congeals.

Methods of Treatment

The present compounds may be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of conditions in mammals that are causally related or attributable to aberrant activity of JAK. In particular, conditions related to aberrant activity of one or more of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and/or TYK2. Accordingly, the compound of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention find use as therapeutics for preventing and/or treating diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection). Inhibitors of JAK can also find application in the treatment of proliferative diseases. In particular the inhibitors of JAK find application in the treatment of cancers, especially leukaemias and solid tumours (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer). In particular the conditions are selected from inflammatory conditions, conditions related to cartilage and/or joint degradation in mammals including humans. In another embodiment, the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention find use as therapeutics for preventing and/or treating proliferative disorders in mammals, including humans. In a specific embodiment the compound of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions thereof find use as therapeutics for preventing and/or treating cancer in mammals including humans.

In additional method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with condition involving an immune response or an autoimmune disease. The methods comprise administering an effective condition-treating or condition-preventing amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compound of the invention herein described. In a specific embodiment, the autoimmune disease is selected from COPD, asthma, systemic lupus erythematosis, type I diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of a condition involving an autoimmune response or an autoimmune disease. In a specific embodiment, the autoimmune disease is selected from COPD, asthma, systemic lupus erythematosis, type I diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease.

In a method of treatment aspect, this invention provides a method of treatment, prevention or prophylaxis in a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. a condition associated with, or diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), for example, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, septic or infectious arthritis, reactive arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, algodystrophy, Tietze syndrome or costal chondritis, fibromyalgia, osteochondritis, neurogenic or neuropathic arthritis, arthropathy, endemic forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis deformans endemica, Mseleni disease and Handigodu disease; degeneration resulting from fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis, which method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to the invention, or one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described.

In another aspect the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. a condition associated with, or diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), for example, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, septic or infectious arthritis, reactive arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, algodystrophy, Tietze syndrome or costal chondritis, fibromyalgia, osteochondritis, neurogenic or neuropathic arthritis, arthropathy, endemic forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis deformans endemica, Mseleni disease and Handigodu disease; degeneration resulting from fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis.

The present invention also provides a method of treatment of congenital cartilage malformations, including hereditary chondrolysis, chondrodysplasias and pseudochondrodysplasias, in particular, but without limitation, microtia, anotia, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, and related disorders, which method comprises administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described.

In another aspect the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of congenital cartilage malformations, including hereditary chondrolysis, chondrodysplasias and pseudochondrodysplasias, in particular, but without limitation, microtia, anotia, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, and related disorders.

In another aspect, this invention provides a method of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a condition involving inflammation. In additional method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with diseases and disorders which are mediated by or result in inflammation such as, for example rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), and related diseases involving cartilage, such as that of the joints, which method comprises administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described. In a specific embodiment, the condition involving inflammation is selected from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma) and inflammatory bowel diseases. The methods comprise administering an effective condition-treating or condition-preventing amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described.

In another aspect, this invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of a condition involving inflammation. In another aspect the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of diseases and disorders which are mediated by or result in inflammation such as, for example rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), and related diseases involving cartilage, such as that of the joints. In a specific embodiment, the condition involving inflammation is selected from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma) and inflammatory bowel diseases.

In further method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a proliferative disease, in particular cancer (e.g. solid tumors such as uterine leiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer), leukemia (e.g. AML or ALL), multiple myeloma and/or psoriasis which methods comprise administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described. In further method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with cancer (e.g. solid tumors such as uterine leiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer) and/or leukemias.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of a proliferative disease, in particular cancer (e.g. solid tumors such as uterine leiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer), leukemia (e.g. AML or ALL), multiple myeloma and/or psoriasis. In another aspect the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of cancer (e.g. solid tumors such as uterine leiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer) and/or leukemias.

In further method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6, in particular Castleman's disease or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis which methods comprise administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described.

In another aspect the present invention provides a compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6, in particular Castleman's disease or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

In further method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with transplantation rejection which methods comprise administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions or compounds herein described. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides methods of treating organ transplant rejection.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of the invention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of transplantation rejection. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides methods of treating organ transplant rejection.

As a further aspect of the invention there is provided the present compounds for use as a pharmaceutical especially in the treatment or prevention of the aforementioned conditions and diseases. Also provided herein is the use of the present compounds in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of one of the aforementioned conditions and diseases.

A particular regimen of the present method comprises the administration to a subject in suffering from a disease involving inflammation, of an effective amount of a compound of the invention for a period of time sufficient to reduce the level of inflammation in the patient, and preferably terminate, the processes responsible for said inflammation. A special embodiment of the method comprises administering of an effective amount of a compound of the invention to a subject patient suffering from or susceptible to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, for a period of time sufficient to reduce or prevent, respectively, inflammation in the joints of said patient, and preferably terminate, the processes responsible for said inflammation.

A further particular regimen of the present method comprises the administration to a subject in suffering from a disease condition characterized by cartilage or joint degradation (e.g. osteoarthritis) of an effective amount of a compound of the invention for a period of time sufficient to reduce and preferably terminate, the self-perpetuating processes responsible for said degradation. A special embodiment of the method comprises administering of an effective amount of a compound of the invention to a subject patient suffering from or susceptible to the development of osteoarthritis, for a period of time sufficient to reduce or prevent, respectively, cartilage degradation in the joints of said patient, and preferably terminate, the self-perpetuating processes responsible for said degradation. In a particular embodiment said compounds exhibit cartilage anabolic and/or anti-catabolic properties.

Injection dose levels range from about 0.1 mg/kg/hour to at least 10 mg/kg/hour, all for from about 1 to about 120 hours and especially 24 to 96 hours. A preloading bolus of from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg or more may also be administered to achieve adequate steady state levels. The maximum total dose is not expected to exceed about 2 g/day for a 40 to 80 kg human patient.

For the prevention and/or treatment of long-term conditions, such as degenerative conditions, the regimen for treatment usually stretches over many months or years so oral dosing is preferred for patient convenience and tolerance. With oral dosing, one to five and especially two to four and typically three oral doses per day are representative regimens. Using these dosing patterns, each dose provides from about 0.01 to about 20 mg/kg of the compound of the invention, with particular doses each providing from about 0.1 to about 10 mg/kg and especially about 1 to about 5 mg/kg.

Transdermal doses are generally selected to provide similar or lower blood levels than are achieved using injection doses.

When used to prevent the onset of an inflammatory condition, the compounds of this invention will be administered to a patient at risk for developing the condition, typically on the advice and under the supervision of a physician, at the dosage levels described above. Patients at risk for developing a particular condition generally include those that have a family history of the condition, or those who have been identified by genetic testing or screening to be particularly susceptible to developing the condition.

The compounds of this invention can be administered as the sole active agent or they can be administered in combination with other agents, including other compounds that demonstrate the same or a similar therapeutic activity, and that are determined to safe and efficacious for such combined administration. In a specific embodiment, co-administration of two (or more) agents allows for significantly lower doses of each to be used, thereby reducing the side effects seen.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease involving inflammation; particular agents include, but are not limited to, immunoregulatory agents e.g. azathioprine, corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone or dexamethasone), cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, Mycophenolate Mofetil, muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, e.g. Orthocolone®), ATG, aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and piroxicam.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis); particular agents include but are not limited to analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), steroids, synthetic DMARDS (for example but without limitation methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, auranofin, sodium aurothiomalate, penicillamine, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, and cyclosporin), and biological DMARDS (for example but without limitation Infliximab, Etanercept, Adalimumab, Rituximab, and Abatacept).

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of proliferative disorders; particular agents include but are not limited to: methotrexate, leukovorin, adriamycin, prenisone, bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, docetaxel, vincristine, vinblastine, vinorelbine, doxorubicin, tamoxifen, toremifene, megestrol acetate, anastrozole, goserelin, anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (e.g. Herceptin™), capecitabine, raloxifene hydrochloride, EGFR inhibitors (e.g. Iressa®, Tarceva™, Erbitux™), VEGF inhibitors (e.g. Avastin™), proteasome inhibitors (e.g. Velcade™), Glivec® or hsp90 inhibitors (e.g. 17-AAG). Additionally, a compound of the invention may be administered in combination with other therapies including, but not limited to, radiotherapy or surgery. In a specific embodiment the proliferative disorder is selected from cancer, myeloproliferative disease or leukaemia.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of autoimmune diseases, particular agents include but are not limited to: glucocorticoids, cytostatic agents (e.g. purine analogs), alkylating agents, (e.g. nitrogen mustards (cyclophosphamide), nitrosoureas, platinum compounds, and others), antimetabolites (e.g. methotrexate, azathioprine and mercaptopurine), cytotoxic antibiotics (e.g. dactinomycin anthracyclines, mitomycin C, bleomycin, and mithramycin), antibodies (e.g., anti-CD20, anti-CD25 or anti-CD3 (OTK3) monoclonal antibodies, Atgam® and Thymoglobuline®), cyclosporin, tacrolimus, rapamycin (sirolimus), interferons (e.g. IFN-β), TNF binding proteins (e.g. infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel), or adalimumab (Humira)), mycophenolate, Fingolimod, Myriocin.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of transplantation rejection, particular agents include but are not limited to: calcineurin inhibitors (e.g. cyclosporin or tacrolimus (FK506)), mTOR inhibitors (e.g. sirolimus, everolimus), anti-proliferatives (e.g. azathioprine, mycophenolic acid), corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone, hydrocortisone), Antibodies (e.g. monoclonal anti-IL-2Rα receptor antibodies, basiliximab, daclizumab), polyclonal anti-T-cell antibodies (e.g. anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG)).

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of Asthma and/or Rhinitis and/or COPD, particular agents include but are not limited to: beta₂-adrenoceptor agonists (e.g. salbutamol, levalbuterol, terbutaline and bitolterol), epinephrine (inhaled or tablets), anticholinergics (e.g. ipratropium bromide), glucocorticoids (oral or inhaled) Long-acting β₂-agonists (e.g. salmeterol, formoterol, bambuterol, and sustained-release oral albuterol), combinations of inhaled steroids and long-acting bronchodilators (e.g. fluticasone/salmeterol, budesonide/formoterol), leukotriene antagonists and synthesis inhibitors (e.g. montelukast, zafirlukast and zileuton), inhibitors of mediator release (e.g. cromoglycate and ketotifen), biological regulators of IgE response (e.g. omalizumab), antihistamines (e.g. ceterizine, cinnarizine, fexofenadine), vasoconstrictors (e.g. oxymethazoline, xylomethazoline, nafazoline and tramazoline).

Additionally, the compound of the invention may be administered in combination with emergency therapies for asthma and/or COPD, such therapies include oxygen or heliox administration, nebulized salbutamol or terbutaline (optionally combined with an anticholinergic (e.g. ipratropium), systemic steroids (oral or intravenous, e.g. prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone), intravenous salbutamol, nonspecific beta-agonists, injected or inhaled (e.g. epinephrine, isoetharine, isoproterenol, metaproterenol), anticholinergics (IV or nebulized, e.g. glycopyrrolate, atropine, ipratropium), methylxanthines (theophylline, aminophylline, bamiphylline), inhalation anesthetics that have a bronchodilatory effect (e.g. isoflurane, halothane, enflurane), ketamine, intravenous magnesium sulfate.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of IBD, particular agents include but are not limited to: glucocorticoids (e.g. prednisone, budesonide) synthetis disease modifying, immunomodulatory agents (e.g. methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, mesalazine, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and ciclosporin) and biological disease modifying, immunomodulatory agents (infliximab, adalimumab, rituximab, and abatacept).

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of SLE, particular agents include but are not limited to: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as antimalarials (e.g. plaquenil, hydroxychloroquine), immunosuppressants (e.g. methotrexate and azathioprine), cyclophosphamide and mycophenolic acid; immunosuppressive drugs and analgesics, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opiates (e.g. dextropropoxyphene and co-codamol), opioids (e.g. hydrocodone, oxycodone, MS Contin, or methadone) and the fentanyl duragesic transdermal patch.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered with another therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of psoriasis, particular agents include but are not limited to: topical treatments such as bath solutions, moisturizers, medicated creams and ointments containing coal tar, dithranol (anthralin), corticosteroids like desoximetasone (Topicort), fluocinonide, vitamin D₃ analogues (for example, calcipotriol), Argan oil and retinoids (etretinate, acitretin, tazarotene), systemic treatments such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, retinoids, tioguanine, hydroxyurea, sulfasalazine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, tacrolimus, fumaric acid esters or biologics such as Amevive, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Raptiva and ustekinumab (a IL-12 and IL-23 blocker). Additionally, a compound of the invention may be administered in combination with other therapies including, but not limited to phototherapy, or photochemotherapy (e.g. psoralen and ultraviolet A phototherapy (PUVA)).

By co-administration is included any means of delivering two or more therapeutic-agents to the patient as part of the same treatment regime, as will be apparent to the skilled person. Whilst the two or more agents may be administered simultaneously in a single formulation this is not essential. The agents may be administered in different formulations and at different times.

General Synthetic Procedures General

The compounds of the invention can be prepared from readily available starting materials using the following general methods and procedures. It will be appreciated that where typical or preferred process conditions (i.e., reaction temperatures, times, mole ratios of reactants, solvents, pressures, etc.) are given, other process conditions can also be used unless otherwise stated. Optimum reaction conditions may vary with the particular reactants or solvent used, but such conditions can be determined by one skilled in the art by routine optimization procedures.

Additionally, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, conventional protecting groups may be necessary to prevent certain functional groups from undergoing undesired reactions. The choice of a suitable protecting group for a particular functional group as well as suitable conditions for protection and deprotection are well known in the art. For example, numerous protecting groups, and their introduction and removal, are described in T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis, Second Edition, Wiley, New York, 1991, and references cited therein.

The following methods are presented with details as to the preparation of representative bicycloheteroaryls that have been listed hereinabove. The compounds of the invention may be prepared from known or commercially available starting materials and reagents by one skilled in the art of organic synthesis.

All reagents were of commercial grade and were used as received without further purification, unless otherwise stated. Commercially available anhydrous solvents were used for reactions conducted under inert atmosphere. Reagent grade solvents were used in all other cases, unless otherwise specified. Column chromatography was performed on silica gel 60 (35-70 μm). Thin layer chromatography was carried out using pre-coated silica gel F-254 plates (thickness 0.25 mm). 1H NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker DPX 400 NMR spectrometer (400 MHz). Chemical shifts (δ) for 1H NMR spectra are reported in parts per million (ppm) relative to tetramethylsilane (δ 0.00) or the appropriate residual solvent peak, i.e. CHCl3 (δ7.27), as internal reference. Multiplicities are given as singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t), quartet (q), multiplet (m) and broad (br). Coupling constants (J) are given in Hz. Electrospray MS spectra were obtained on a Micromass platform LC/MS spectrometer. Column Used for all LCMS analysis: Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 1.7 μm, 2.1 mm ID×50 mm L (Part No. 186002350)). Preparative HPLC:Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No. 186002978). All the methods are using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O contains either 0.1% TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

List of Abbreviations Used in the Experimental Section:

DCM Dichloromethane

DiPEA N,N-diisopropylethylamine

MeCN Acetonitrile

BOC tert-Butyloxy-carbonyl

DMF N,N-dimethylformamide

TFA Trifluoroacetic acid

THF Tetrahydrofuran

NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonnance

DMSO Dimethylsulfoxide

DPPA Diphenylphosphorylazide

LC-MS Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Ppm part-per-million

EtOAc ethyl acetate

APCI atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

Rt retention time

s singlet

br s broad singlet

m multiplet

d doublet

PdCl₂dppf [1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II)

TEA Triethylamine

Synthetic Preparation of Compounds of the Invention

A compound of the invention can be produced according to the following scheme.

General Synthetic Method

wherein Ar is Cy1-L1-(CR^(4b)R^(4c))_(n1)—R^(3b); and Cy1, L1, n1, R^(2a), R^(3b), R^(4b), and R^(4c) are as described herein.

General 1.1.1 1-(6-Bromo-pyridin-2-yl)-3-carboethoxy-thiourea (2)

To a solution of 2-amino-6-bromopyridine (1) (253.8 g, 1.467 mol) in DCM (2.5 L) cooled to 5° C. is added ethoxycarbonyl isothiocyanate (173.0 mL, 1.467 mol) dropwise over 15 min. The reaction mixture is then allowed to warm to room temp. (20° C.) and stirred for 16 h. Evaporation in vacuo gives a solid which may be collected by filtration, thoroughly washed with petrol (3×600 mL) and air-dried to afford (2). The thiourea may be used as such for the next step without any purification. ¹H (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 12.03 (1H, br s, NH), 8.81 (1H, d, J 7.8 Hz, H-3), 8.15 (1H, br s, NH), 7.60 (1H, t, J 8.0 Hz, H-4), 7.32 (1H, dd, J 7.7 and 0.6 Hz, H-5), 4.31 (2H, q, J 7.1 Hz, CH₂), 1.35 (3H, t, J 7.1 Hz, CH₃).

1.1.2 5-Bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-ylamine (3)

To a suspension of hydroxylamine hydrochloride (101.8 g, 1.465 mol) in EtOH/MeOH (1:1, 900 mL) is added N,N-diisopropylethylamine (145.3 mL, 0.879 mol) and the mixture is stirred at room temp. (20° C.) for 1 h. 1-(6-Bromo-pyridin-2-yl)-3-carboethoxy-thiourea (2) (89.0 g, 0.293 mol) may then be added and the mixture slowly heated to reflux (Note: bleach scrubber is required to quench H₂S evolved). After 3 h at reflux, the mixture is allowed to cool and filtered to collect the precipitated solid. Further product may be collected by evaporation in vacuo of the filtrate, addition of H₂O (250 mL) and filtration. The combined solids are washed successively with H₂O (250 mL), EtOH/MeOH (1:1, 250 mL) and Et₂O (250 mL) then dried in vacuo to afford the triazolopyridine derivative (3) as a solid. The compound may be used as such for the next step without any purification. ¹H (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.43-7.34 (2H, m, 2× aromatic-H), 7.24 (1H, dd, J 6.8 and 1.8 Hz, aromatic-H), 6.30 (2H, br, NH₂); m/z 213/215 (1:1, M+H⁺, 100%).

1.1.3 General Procedure for Mono-Acylation to Afford Intermediate (4)

To a solution of the 2-amino-triazolopyridine (3) (7.10 g, 33.3 mmol) in dry CH₃CN (150 mL) at 5° C. is added Et₃N (11.6 mL, 83.3 mmol) followed by the appropriate acid chloride (83.3 mmol). The reaction mixture is then allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred until all starting material (3) is consumed. If required, further Et₃N (4.64 mL, 33.3 mmol) and the acid chloride (33.3 mmol) may be added to ensure complete reaction. Following solvent evaporation in vacuo the resultant residue is treated with 7 N methanolic ammonia solution (50 mL) and stirred at ambient temp. (for 1-16 h) to hydrolyse any bis-acylated product. Product isolation is made by removal of volatiles in vacuo followed by trituration with Et₂O (50 mL). The solids may be collected by filtration, washed with H₂O (2×50 mL), acetone (50 mL) and Et₂O (50 mL), then dried in vacuo to give the required acyl intermediate (4). In some cases column chromatography (petrol/EtOAc) may be required to obtain pure compounds.

Method A 1.1.4 Preparation of Compounds of the Invention Via Suzuki Coupling (5)

An appropriate boronic acid (2 eq.) is added to a solution of bromo intermediate (4) in 1,4-dioxane/water (5:1). K₂CO₃ (2 eq.) and PdCl₂dppf (5%) are added to the solution. The resulting mixture is then heated in a microwave at 140° C. for 30 min (This reaction can also be carried out by traditional heating in an oil bath at 90° C. for 16 h under N₂). Water is added and the solution is extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers are dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated in vacuo. The final compound is obtained after purification by flash chromatography.

Method C

wherein R^(4a), R^(4b), R^(4c), R^(3b) and n1 are as described herein.

Reaction of Alkylation (General Method)

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [5-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl]-amide (1.1 eq) obtained by Method A and K₂CO₃ (5 eq) (or AgCO₃) are dissolved in DMF under N₂ and the appropriate alkylating agent (1.1 eq) is added dropwise. The resulting suspension is heated at 50° C. for 16 h. After this time, the reaction is complete. The compound is extracted with EtOAc and water, washed with brine and dried over MgSO₄. Organic layers are filtered and evaporated. The final compound is isolated by preparative HPLC. Preparative HPLC: Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No. 186002978). All the methods are using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O contains either 0.1% TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

Method E

wherein R^(4a), R^(4b), R^(4c), R^(3b) and n1 are as described herein.

Reductive Amination (General Method)

The appropriate aldehyde (2 eq.), the aniline derivative (1 eq.) obtained by Method A and Ti(OPr)₄ are mixed and stirred at room temperature for 3 hrs. The mixture is diluted in ethanol and Na(CN)BH₃ (1 eq.) was added. The resulting solution is stirred at room temperature for 16 hrs. The mixture is diluted in water and filtered. The filtrate is washed with ethanol. The combined solvent phases are evaporated under vacuum. The final compound is isolated by preparative HPLC.

Preparative HPLC: Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No. 186002978). All the methods are using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O contains either 0.1% TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

Method F

wherein Ar is Cy1-L1-(CR^(4b)R^(4c))_(n1)—R^(3b); and Cy1, L1, n1, R^(3b), R^(4b), and R^(4c) are as described herein.

N-(5-Bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)-acetamide

To a solution of the 5-bromo-2-amino-triazolopyridine (1 eq.) in dry CH₃CN at 5° C. is added Et₃N (2.5 eq.) followed by acetyl chloride (2.5 eq.). The reaction mixture is then allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred until all starting material is consumed. If required, further Et₃N (1 eq.) and acid chloride (1 eq.) are added to ensure complete reaction. Following solvent evaporation in vacuo the resultant residue is treated with 7 N methanolic ammonia solution and stirred at ambient temp. (for 16 h) to hydrolyse any bis-acylated product. Product isolation is made by removal of volatiles in vacuo followed by addition of water and extraction with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is then dried over MgSO₄, evaporated in vacuo. The compound is used without further purification.

Suzuki Reaction (General Method)

Boronic acids (2 eq.) is added to a solution of N-(5-Bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)-acetamide in 1,4-dioxane/water (5:1). K₂CO₃ (2 eq.) and Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (5%) (dppf=1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) are added to the solution. The resulting mixture is then heated in a microwave oven (CEM discover) in a sealed tube at 140° C. for 30 min. Water is added and the solution is extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers are dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated in vacuo. The final compound is obtained after purification by preparative HPLC. Analytical: Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 1.7 μm, 2.1 mm ID×50 mm L (Part No. 186002350).

Preparative HPLC: Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No. 186002978). All the methods are using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O contains either 0.1% TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

Method L

L.1 Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution (General Method)

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4-(6-chloro-pyridin-3-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl}-amide prepared by method C (1 eq), an appropriate amine, (1.5 eq.) are mixed in DMSO in a sealed tube. The reaction is heated at 100° C. for 24 hours. Once all the SM disappeared by LCMS, water is added to the reaction mixture and the organics is extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer is dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated under vacuum. The final compound is isolated by preparative HPLC. Analytical: Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 1.7 μm, 2.1 mm ID×50 mm L (Part No. 186002350)

Preparative HPLC: Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No. 186002978). All the methods are using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O contains either 0.1% TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

Method N

N.1 Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4-(nitril-arylmethoxy)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl}-amide

Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.04 mmol) is added to degassed solution of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4-(haloaryl-3-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl}-amide prepared by method B (0.24 mmol) and Zn(CN)₂ (0.24 mmol) in DMF (1 mL). The reaction mixture is exposed to microwave radiation (W: 150 W; T: 150° C.) for 30 min. The mixture is diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with water. The organic layer is dried over MgSO₄, filtered and the solvent is removed under vacuum. The compound is purified by preparative HPLC to afford the product (30% to 50%).

Synthesis of Representative Compounds of the Invention Compound 57: Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [5-(6-benzyloxy-pyridin-3-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl]-amide

At 0° C. and under N₂ atmosphere, Benzyl alcohol (2 eq) in a solution of THF was treated with NaH 60% in mineral oil (4 eq) for 30 min. Then cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [5-(6-chloro-pyridin-3-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl]-amide prepared by method A was added to the solution and the mixture was stirred at 70° C. for 3 hours. The reaction was completed. The reaction mixture was quenched with water and the compound was extracted with EtOAc. The compound was washed with brine, dried on MgSO₄, filtrated and concentrated. Compound was purified on Prep HPLC.

Compound 176: N-(5-(4-((6-cyanopyridin-3-yl)methoxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 176.1: Synthesis of 5-[4-(4, 4, 5, 5-Tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenoxymethyl]-pyridine-2-carbonitrile

To 4-hydroxyphenylboronic acid pinacol ester (25 g; 0.11 mol; 1.0 equiv.) in acetone (250 mL) at room temperature were added under argon 5-chlomomethyl-pyridine-2-carbonitrile (19 g; 0.12 mol; 1.1 equiv.) and cesium carbonate (73.9 g, 0.22 mol; 2 equiv.). The reaction mixture was heated for 4 hours at reflux. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature, the acetone was evaporated. Water (200 mL) was added and the product was extracted with EtOAc (3×200 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to dryness. The resulting residue was purified by chromatography over silica gel (petrol:EtOAc 10:1) to afford the expected boronate as a white solid.

176.2: Synthesis of Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4-(6-cyano-pyridin-3-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl}-amide

5-[4-(4,4,5,5-Tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenoxymethyl]-pyridine-2-carbonitrile (10 g, 0.03 mol, 1.1 equiv.) was added to a solution of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (5-bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)-amide (7.6 g, 0.027 mol) in 1,4-dioxane/water (4:1; 70 mL). K₂CO₃ (7.45, 0.054 mol, 2 eq.) and PdCl₂dppf (5%) were added to the solution. The resulting mixture was then heated in an oil bath at 90° C. under N₂ until completion (monitored by LCMS). 1,4-Dioxane was removed under vacuum, and water/EtOAc were added and the solid was filtered. The obtained solid was dissolved in methanol/DCM, dried over MgSO4 and the final compound was obtained after purification by flash chromatography, eluted with neat EtOAc as a white solid

Compound 192: 5-{4-[2-(Cyclopropanecarbonyl-amino)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-5-yl]-phenoxymethyl}-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide

To a solution of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4-(6-cyano-pyridin-3-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl}-amide (30 mg, 0.073 mmol, 1 equiv) and K₂CO₃ (10 mg, 0.073 mmol, 1 equiv) in DMSO (0.2 mL) at 10° C., 30% H₂O₂ (17 μL, 0.146 mmol, 2 equiv) was added dropwise. After stirring at room temperature the mixture for 4 h, it was diluted with DMSO and filtered. The filtrate was submitted for preparative HPLC purification: UPLC system (Xbridge™ Prep C18, 5 μm, 19×100 mm column); 8 min LC; flow: 20 mL/min; gradient: from 30% to 70% acetonitrile in water 0.1% TFA; isolating the final pure product.

The exemplary compounds that have been or can be prepared according to the synthetic methods described herein are listed in Table I below. The NMR spectral data of some representative compounds of the invention is given in Table II.

TABLE I Cpd MS # Structure Name Method MW Mes'd 12

N-(5-(4-(benzyloxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide A 384.44  385.10 14

N-(5-(3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide A 384.44  385.20 15

N-(5-(4-(benzyloxy)-3- fluorophenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide A 402.43  403.10 16

N-(5-(2-(benzyloxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide A 384.44  385.20 36

N-(5-(4-(pyridin-3- ylmethoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide C 385.43 408.0 (M⁺ + Na) 37

N-(5-(4-(pyridin-2- ylmethoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide C 385.43 408.0 (M⁺ + Na) 38

N-(5-(4-(3- (trifluoromethoxy)benzyloxy) phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyridin-2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide C 468.44  469.00 46

N-(5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide A 370.41  371.00 57

N-(5-(6-(benzyloxy)pyridin- 3-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyridin-2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide Described above 385.43  386.00 72

N-(5-(4- (benzylamino)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide E 383.46  384.00 78

N-(5-(4-((6- (trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3- yl)methoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide C 453.43  454.00 92

N-(5-(4-(4- acetamidobenzyloxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyridin-2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide C 441.49  442.00 127

N-(5-(4-(2-(pyridin-3- yl)ethoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide C 399.45 400.0 163

N-(5-(4-(benzyloxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2-yl)acetamide F 358.40 359.0 165

N-(5-(4-((6- morpholinopyridin-3- yl)methoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide L 470.53 471.1 167

N-(5-(4-((6-(4- methylpiperazin-1- yl)pyridin-3- yl)methoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide L 483.58 484.1 174

N-(5-(4-((6-(pyrrolidin-1- yl)pyridin-3- yl)methoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide L 454.53 455.1 176

N-(5-(4-((6-cyanopyridin-3- yl)methoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide Method described above 410.44 411.0 182

N-(5-(4-(pyridin-3- ylmethylamino)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide E 384.44 385.0 190

methyl 6-((4-(2- (cyclopropanecarboxamido)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 5- yl)phenylcyclopropanecarbox- amido)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyridin-5- yl)phenoxy)methyl)nicotinate C 443.47 444.0 192

5-((4-(2- (cyclopropanecarboxamido)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 5- yl)phenylcyclopropanecarbox- amido)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyridin-5- yl)phenoxy)methyl)picolin- amide Described above 428.45 429.1 197

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4-(6-methyl-pyridin-3- ylmethoxy)-phenyl]- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2-yl}-amide C 399.45 400.1 198

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4-(6-chloro-pyridin-3- ylmethoxy)-phenyl]- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin- 2-yl}-amide C 419.87 420.0

TABLE II NMR Data of Representative Compounds of the Invention Cpd # (δ) NMR data 12 (¹H, CDCl₃) 8.70 (1H, b, NH), 7.97 (2H, d, ArH), 7.60-7.30 (7H, m, ArH), 7.15 (2H, m, ArH), 7.07 (1H, m, ArH), 5.17 (2H, s, CH₂), 1.60 (1H, under water peak, CH), 1.21 (2H, m, CH₂), 0.94 (2H, m, CH₂) 15 (¹H, DMSO) 11.04 (1H, br, NH), 8.08 (1H, d, ArH), 7.88 (1H, d, ArH), 7.68 (2H, m, ArH), 7.51 (2H, d, ArH), 2.48-7.30 (5H, m, ArH), 5.32 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.02 (1H, br, CH), 0.83 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 36 (¹H, DMSO) 11.03 (1H, br, NH), 8.62 (1H, m, ArH), 8.02 (2H, d, ArH), 7.89 (1H, m, ArH), 7.66 (2H, m, ArH), 7.58 (1H, d, ArH), 7.40 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.27 (1H, d, ArH), 7.21 (2H, d, ArH), 5.31 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.02 (1H, br, CH), 0.83 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 37 (¹H, DMSO) 11.01 (1H, br, NH), 8.04 (2H, d, ArH), 7;68 (2H, m, ArH), 7.55 (2H, m, ArH), 7.50 (1H, s, ArH), 7.38 (1H, d, ArH), 7.28 (1H, d, ArH), 7.20 (2H, d, ArH), 5.30 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.02 (1H, br, CH), 0.82 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 38 (¹H, DMSO) 11.01 (1H, br, NH), 8.00 (2H, d, ArH), 7.69 (2H, d, ArH), 7.69 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.64 (1H, d, ArH), 7.26 (1H, d, ArH), 7.11 (2H, d, ArH), 4.07 (2H, d, CH₂), 2.78 (1H, m, CH), 2.2-1.8 (7H, m, CH, 3 × CH₂), 0.83 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 57 (¹H, DMSO) 11.18 (1H, br, NH), 8.01 (2H, d, ArH), 7.68 (2H, m, ArH), 7.26 (1H, d, ArH), 7.09 (2H, d, ArH), 4.12 (2H, t, CH₂), 2.86 (2H, t, CH₂), 2.28 (6H, s, 2 × CH₃), 2.02 (1H, br, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 72 (¹H, DMSO) 10.95 (1H, br, NH), 7.85 (2H, d, ArH), 7.61 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.51 (1H, d, ArH), 7.40 (4H, m, ArH), 7.36 (1H, m, ArH), 7.24 (1H, d, ArH), 7.09 (4H, m, ArH), 6.88 (1H, m, ArH), 6.70 (2H, d, ArH), 4.37 (2H, d, CH₂), 2.02 (1H, br, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 73 (¹H, DMSO) 11.05 (1H, s, NH), 8.09 (2H, d, ArH), 8.02 (2H, d, ArH), 7.3-7.56 (7H, m, ArH), 7.36 (1H, m, ArH), 4.54 (1H, b, CH), 3.80 (2H, m, CH₂), 3.06 (1H, br, CH), 2.02-1.80 (4H, br, 2 × CH, CH₂), 1.58 (2H, m, CH₂), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 78 (¹H, DMSO) 11.05 (1H, s, NH), 8.09 (2H, d, ArH), 8.02 (2H, d, ArH), 7.3-7.56 (7H, m, ArH), 7.36 (1H, m, ArH), 4.54 (1H, b, CH), 3.80 (2H, m, CH₂), 3.06 (1H, br, CH), 2.02-1.80 (4H, br, 2 × CH, CH₂), 1.58 (2H, m, CH₂), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 92 (¹H, DMSO) 11.03 (1H, br, NH), 10.01 (1H, br, NH), 8.00 (2H, d, ArH), 7.65 (4H, m, ArH), 7.41 (2H, d, ArH), 7.27 (1H, m, ArH), 7.17 (2H, d, ArH), 5.15 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.04 (4H, m, CH₃, CH), 0.82 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 127 (¹H, DMSO), 10.98 (1H, s, NH), 8.63 (1H, s, ArH), 8.51 (1H, m, ArH), 8.00 (2h, d, ArH), 7.91 (1H, d, ArH), 7.64 (2H, m, ArH), 7.46 (1H, m, ArH), 7.24 (1H, m, ArH), 7.13 (2H, m, ArH), 4.36 (2H, t, CH₂), 3.14 (2H, t, CH₂), 2.04 (1H, br, CH), 0.82 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 163 (¹H, DMSO) 10.72 (1H, br, NH), 7.99 (2H, m, ArH), 7.65 (2H, b, ArH), 7.48 (4H, b, ArH), 7.18 (2H, m, ArH), 5.21 (2H, d, CH₂), 2.12 (3H, br, CH₃) 165 (¹H, DMSO) 8.26 (1H, d, ArH), 8.01 (2H, d, ArH), 7.68 (2H, m, ArH), 7.62 (1H, d, ArH), 7.26 (1H, d, ArH), 7.17 (2H, d, ArH), 6.87 (1H, d, ArH), 5.10 (2H, s, CH₂), 3.69 (4H, t, 2 × CH₂), 3.46 (4H, t, 2 × CH₂), 2.07 (1H, br, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 167 (¹H, DMSO) 11.00 (1H, br, NH), 10.03 (1H, br, NH), 8.31 (1H, d, ArH), 8.03 (2H, d, ArH), 7.76 (1H, d, ArH), 7.69 (1H, m, ArH), 7.63 (1H, d, ArH), 7.26 (1H, m, ArH), 7.18 (2H, m, ArH), 7.00 (1H, d, ArH), 5.12 (2H, s, CH₂), 4.41 (2H, br, CH₂), 3.49 (2H, br, CH₂), 3.15 (4H, br, 2 × CH₂), 2.84 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.04 (1H, br, CH), 0.82 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 174 (¹H, DMSO) 11.02 (1H, br, NH), 8.14 (1H, s, ArH), 8.03 (3H, m, ArH), 7.66 (2H, m, ArH), 7.27 (1H, d, ArH), 7.20 (2H, dd, ArH), 7.10 (1H, d, ArH), 5.17 (2H, s, CH₂), 3.53 (4H, t, 2 × CH₂), 2.02 (5H, t, 2 × CH₂, CH), 0.82 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 176 (¹H, DMSO) 11.01 (1H, br, NH), 8.89 (1H, s, ArH), 8.16 (1H, d, ArH), 8.09 (1H, d, ArH), 8.04 (2H, d, ArH), 7.67 (2H, m, ArH), 7.27 (1H, d, ArH), 7.23 (2H, d, ArH), 5.41 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.04 (1H, br, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 182 (¹H, DMSO) 10.94 (1H, b, NH), 8.62 (1H, s, ArH), 8.46 (1H, d, ArH), 7.86 (2H, d, ArH), 7.78 (1H, d, ArH), 7.62 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.51 (1H, d, ArH), 7.37 (1H, m, ArH), 6.89 (1H, m, NH), 6.73 (2H, d, ArH), 6.57 (1H, s, ArH), 4.42 (2H, d, CH₂), 2.05 (1H, br, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 190 (¹H, DMSO) 11.04 (1H, br, NH), 9.11 (1H, s, ArH), 8.38 (1H, d, ArH), 8.02 (2H, d, ArH), 7.69 (3H, m, ArH), 7.22 (3H, m, ArH), 5.41 (2H, s, ArH), 3.90 (3H, s, ArH), 2.04 (1H, br, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 192 (¹H, DMSO) 11.07 (1H, b, NH), 8.76 (1H, s, ArH), 8.16 (1H, br, ArH), 8.09 (2H, s, ArH), 8.03 (2H, d, ArH), 7.68 (3H, m, ArH), 7.28 (1H, d, ArH), 7.23 (2H, d, ArH), 5.38 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.02 (1H, br, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂). 197 (1H, DMSO) 10.99 (1H, b, NH), 8.57 (1H, d, ArH), 8.02 (2H, d, ArH), 7.79 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.69 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.63 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.29 (1H, d, ArH), 7.26 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.20 (2H, d, ArH), 5.22 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.50 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.03 (1H, b, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, CH₂). 198 (1H, DMSO) 10.99 (1H, b, NH), 8.56 (1H, m, ArH), 8.03 (2H, d, ArH), 7.99 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.69 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.63 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.58 (1H, d, ArH), 7.27 (1H, dd, ArH), 7.21 (2H, d, ArH), 5.29 (2H, s, CH₂), 2.04 (1H, b, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, CH₂).

BIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES Example 1 In Vitro Assays Example 1.1 JAK1 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human JAK1 catalytic domain (amino acids 850-1154; catalog number 08-144) was purchased from Carna Biosciences. 10 ng of JAK1 was incubated with 12.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) in kinase reaction buffer (15 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 1 mM DTT, 0.01% Tween-20, 10 mM MgCl₂, 2 μM non-radioactive ATP, 0.25 μCi 33P-gamma-ATP (GE Healthcare, catalog number AH9968) final concentrations) with or without 5 μL containing test compound or vehicle (DMSO, 1% final concentration), in a total volume of 25 μL, in a polypropylene 96-well plate (Greiner, V-bottom). After 45 min at 30° C., reactions were stopped by adding of 25 μL/well of 150 mM phosphoric acid. All of the terminated kinase reaction was transferred to prewashed (75 mM phosphoric acid) 96 well filter plates (Perkin Elmer catalog number 6005177) using a cell harvester (Perkin Elmer). Plates were washed 6 times with 300 μL per well of a 75 mM phosphoric acid solution and the bottom of the plates was sealed. 40 μL/well of Microscint-20 was added, the top of the plates was sealed and readout was performed using the Topcount (Perkin Elmer). Kinase activity was calculated by subtracting counts per minute (cpm) obtained in the presence of a positive control inhibitor (10 μM staurosporine) from cpm obtained in the presence of vehicle. The ability of a test compound to inhibit this activity was determined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compound present−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by(cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor))*100%.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling the testing of dose-response effects in the JAK1 assay and the calculation of the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested at concentration of 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20 μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a final concentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased, more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration were lowered (e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

Semi-quantitative score:

-   -   *>501 nM     -   **101-500 nM     -   ***0.1-100 nM

TABLE III JAK1 IC₅₀ Values of Compounds Cpd # JAK1 12 *** 14 ** 15 *** 36 *** 37 *** 38 ** 57 *** 72 *** 78 *** 92 *** 127 ** 163 *** 165 ** 167 ** 174 * 176 *** 182 *** 190 *** 192 *** 197 *** 198 ***

Example 1.2 JAK2 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human JAK2 catalytic domain (amino acids 808-1132; catalog number PV4210) was purchased from Invitrogen. 0.025 mU of JAK2 was incubated with 2.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) in kinase reaction buffer (5 mM MOPS pH 7.5, 9 mM MgAc, 0.3 mM EDTA, 0.06% Brij and 0.6 mM DTT, 1 μM non-radioactive ATP, 0.25 μCi 33P-gamma-ATP (GE Healthcare, catalog number AH9968) final concentrations) with or without 5 μL containing test compound or vehicle (DMSO, 1% final concentration), in a total volume of 25 μL, in a polypropylene 96-well plate (Greiner, V-bottom). After 90 min at 30° C., reactions were stopped by adding of 25 μL/well of 150 mM phosphoric acid. All of the terminated kinase reaction was transferred to prewashed (75 mM phosphoric acid) 96 well filter plates (Perkin Elmer catalog number 6005177) using a cell harvester (Perkin Elmer). Plates were washed 6 times with 300 μL per well of a 75 mM phosphoric acid solution and the bottom of the plates was sealed. 40 μL/well of Microscint-20 was added, the top of the plates was sealed and readout was performed using the Topcount (Perkin Elmer). Kinase activity was calculated by subtracting counts per minute (cpm) obtained in the presence of a positive control inhibitor (10 μM staurosporine) from cpm obtained in the presence of vehicle. The ability of a test compound to inhibit this activity was determined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compound present−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by(cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor))*100%.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling the testing of dose-response effects in the JAK2 assay and the calculation of the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested at concentration of 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20 μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a final concentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased, more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration was lowered (e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

Semi-Quantitative Score:

-   -   #>501 nM     -   ##101-500 nM     -   ###1-100 nM

TABLE IV JAK2 IC₅₀ Values of Compounds Cpd # JAK2 12 ### 14 # 36 ### 37 ### 57 ### 72 ### 78 ### 92 ## 163 #### 176 ### 197 ### 198 ###

Example 1.3 JAK3 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human JAK3 catalytic domain (amino acids 781-1124; catalog number PV3855) was purchased from Invitrogen. 0.025 mU of JAK3 was incubated with 2.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) in kinase reaction buffer (25 mM Tris pH 7.5, 0.5 mM EGTA, 0.5 mM Na3VO4, 5 mM b-glycerolphosphate, 0.01% Triton X-100, 1 μM non-radioactive ATP, 0.25 μCi 33P-gamma-ATP (GE Healthcare, catalog number AH9968) final concentrations) with or without 5 μL containing test compound or vehicle (DMSO, 1% final concentration), in a total volume of 25 μL, in a polypropylene 96-well plate (Greiner, V-bottom). After 105 min at 30° C., reactions were stopped by adding of 25 μL/well of 150 mM phosphoric acid. All of the terminated kinase reaction was transferred to prewashed (75 mM phosphoric acid) 96 well filter plates (Perkin Elmer catalog number 6005177) using a cell harvester (Perkin Elmer). Plates were washed 6 times with 300 μL per well of a 75 mM phosphoric acid solution and the bottom of the plates was sealed. 40 μL/well of Microscint-20 was added, the top of the plates was sealed and readout was performed using the Topcount (Perkin Elmer). Kinase activity was calculated by subtracting counts per minute (cpm) obtained in the presence of a positive control inhibitor (10 μM staurosporine) from cpm obtained in the presence of vehicle. The ability of a test compound to inhibit this activity was determined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compound present−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by(cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor))*100%.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling the testing of dose-response effects in the JAK3 assay and the calculation of the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested at concentration of 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20 μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a final concentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased, more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration was lowered (e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

Semi-Quantitative Score:

-   -   JAK 3     -   +>501 nM     -   ++101-500 nM     -   +++1-100 nM

TABLE V JAK3 IC₅₀ Values of Compounds Cpd # JAK3 12 +++ 15 ++ 36 ++ 37 + 57 + 72 + 78 ++ 163 ++ 176 +++

Example 1.4 TYK2 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human TYK2 catalytic domain (amino acids 871-1187; catalog number 08-147) was purchased from Carna biosciences. 5 ng of TYK2 was incubated with 12.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) in kinase reaction buffer (25 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 0.2 mM Na3VO4, 0.1% NP-40, 0.1 μM non-radioactive ATP, 0.125 μCi 33P-gamma-ATP (GE Healthcare, catalog number AH9968) final concentrations) with or without 5 μL containing test compound or vehicle (DMSO, 1% final concentration), in a total volume of 25 μL, in a polypropylene 96-well plate (Greiner, V-bottom). After 90 min at 30° C., reactions were stopped by adding of 25 μL/well of 150 mM phosphoric acid. All of the terminated kinase reaction was transferred to prewashed (75 mM phosphoric acid) 96 well filter plates (Perkin Elmer catalog number 6005177) using a cell harvester (Perkin Elmer). Plates were washed 6 times with 300 μL per well of a 75 mM phosphoric acid solution and the bottom of the plates was sealed. 40 μL/well of Microscint-20 was added, the top of the plates was sealed and readout was performed using the Topcount (Perkin Elmer). Kinase activity was calculated by subtracting counts per minute (cpm) obtained in the presence of a positive control inhibitor (10 μM staurosporine) from cpm obtained in the presence of vehicle. The ability of a test compound to inhibit this activity was determined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compound present−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by(cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor))*100%.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling the testing of dose-response effects in the TYK2 assay and the calculation of the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested at concentration of 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20 μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a final concentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased, more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration was lowered (e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

Semi-quantitative score:

-   -   *>1001 nM     -   **501-1000 nM     -   ***101-500 nM     -   ****1-100 nM

TABLE VI TYK2 IC₅₀ Values of Compounds Cpd # TYK2 15 * 36 *** 37 ** 57 * 72 * 92 * 163 * 176 ****

Example 2 Cellular Assays Example 2.1 JAK-STAT Signalling Assay

HeLa cells were maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) containing 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 μg/mL streptomycin. HeLa cells were used at 70% confluence for transfection. 20,000 cells in 87 μL cell culture medium were transiently transfected with 40 ng pSTAT1(2)-luciferase reporter (Panomics), 8 ng of LacZ reporter as internal control reporter and 52 ng of pBSK using 0.32 μL Jet-PEI (Polyplus) as transfection reagent per well in 96-well plate format. After overnight incubation at 37° C., 10% CO₂, transfection medium was removed. 75 μL of DMEM+1.5% heat inactivated fetal calf serum was added. 15 μL of compound at 6.7× concentration was added for 60 min and then 10 μL of human OSM (Peprotech) at 33 ng/mL final concentration.

All compounds were tested in duplicate starting from 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 doses in total (20 μM-6.6 μM-2.2 μM-740 nM-250 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a final concentration of 0.2% DMSO.

After overnight incubation at 37° C., 10% CO₂ cells were lysed in 100 μL lysis buffer/well (PBS, 0.9 mM CaCl₂, 0.5 mM MgCl2, 5% Trehalose, 0.025% Tergitol NP9, 0.15% BSA).

40 μL of cell lysate was used to read β-galactosidase activity by adding 180 μL βGal solution (30 μl ONPG 4 mg/mL+150 μL β-Galactosidase buffer (0.06 M Na₂HPO₄, 0.04 M NaH₂PO₄, 1 mM MgCl₂)) for 20 min. The reaction was stopped by addition of 50 μL Na₂CO₃ 1 M. Absorbance was read at 405 nm.

Luciferase activity was measured using 40 μL cell lysate plus 40 μl of Steadylite® as described by the manufacturer (Perkin Elmer), on the Envision (Perkin Elmer).

10 μM of a pan-JAK inhibitor was used as a positive control (100% inhibition). As negative control 0.5% DMSO (0% inhibition) was used. The positive and negative controls were used to calculate z′ and ‘percent inhibition’ (PIN) values.

Percentage inhibition=((fluorescence determined in the presence of vehicle−fluorescence determined for sample with test compound present)divided by(fluorescence determined in the presence of vehicle−fluorescence determined for sample without trigger))*100%.

PIN values were plotted for compounds tested in dose-response and EC₅₀ values were derived.

TABLE VII JAK-STAT signalling EC₅₀ Values Cpd # EC₅₀ (nM) 12 *** 14 * 15 *** 36 *** 37 ** 57 * 72 * 78 * 92 * 163 * 176 **** 182 * 190 * 192 *** 197 *** 198 *** * >1001 nM ** 501-1000 nM *** 101-500 nM **** 1-100 nM

Example 2.2 OSM/IL-1β Signaling Assay

OSM and IL-1β were shown to synergistically upregulate MMP13 levels in the human chondrosarcoma cell line SW1353. The cells were seeded in 96 well plates at 15,000 cells/well in a volume of 120 μL DMEM (Invitrogen) containing 10% (v/v) FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin (InVitrogen) incubated at 37° C. 5% CO₂. Cells were preincubated with 15 μL compound in M199 medium with 2% DMSO 1 hr before triggering with 15 μL OSM and IL-1β to reach 25 ng/mL OSM and 1 ng/mL IL-1β, and MMP13 levels were measured in conditioned medium 48 hours after triggering. MMP13 activity was measured using an antibody capture activity assay. For this purpose, 384 well plates (NUNC, 460518, MaxiSorb black) were coated with 35 μL of a 1.5 μg/mL anti-human MMP13 antibody (R&D Systems, MAB511) solution for 24 hours at 4° C. After washing the wells 2 times with PBS+0.05% Tween, the remaining binding sites were blocked with 100 μL 5% non-fat dry milk (Santa Cruz, sc-2325, Blotto) in PBS for 24 hours at 4° C. Next, the wells were washed 2 times with PBS+0.05% Tween and 35 μL of 1/10 dilution of culture supernatant containing MMP13 in 100-fold diluted blocking buffer was added and incubated for 4 hours at room temperature. Next the wells were washed twice with PBS+0.05% Tween followed by MMP13 activation by addition of 35 μL of a 1.5 mM 4-Aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) (Sigma, A9563) solution and incubation at 37° C. for 1 hour. The wells were washed again with PBS+0.05% Tween and 35 μL MMP13 substrate (Biomol, P-126, OmniMMP fluorogenic substrate) was added. After incubation for 24 hours at 37° C. fluorescence of the converted substrate was measured in a Perkin Elmer Wallac EnVision 2102 Multilabel Reader (wavelength excitation: 320 nm, wavelength emission: 405 nm).

Percentage inhibition=((fluorescence determined in the presence of vehicle−fluorescence determined for sample with test compound present)divided by(fluorescence determined in the presence of vehicle−fluorescence determined for sample without trigger))*100%.

-   -   *>1001 nM     -   **501-1000 nM     -   ***1-500 nM

TABLE VIII MMP13 EC₅₀ Values Cpd # EC₅₀ (nM) 12 * 15 * 36 ** 37 * 57 * 72 ** 78 ** 163 * 176 *** 182 * 192 * 197 * 198 *

Example 2.3 PBL Proliferation Assay

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were stimulated with IL-2 and proliferation measured using a BrdU incorporation assay. The PBL were first stimulated for 72 hrs with PHA to induce IL-2 receptor, fasted for 24 hrs to stop cell proliferation followed by IL-2 stimulation for another 72 hrs (including 24 hr BrdU labeling). Cells were preincubated with test compounds 1 hr before IL-2 addition. Cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 containing 10% (v/v) FBS.

Example 3 In Vivo Models Example 3.1 CIA Model 3.1.1 Materials

Completed Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) were purchased from Difco. Bovine collagen type II (CII), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Enbrel were obtained from Chondrex (Isle d'Abeau, France); Sigma (P4252, L'Isle d'Abeau, France), Whyett (25 mg injectable syringe, France) Acros Organics (Palo Alto, Calif.), respectively. All other reagents used were of reagent grade and all solvents were of analytical grade.

3.1.2 Animals

Dark Agouti rats (male, 7-8 weeks old) were obtained from Harlan Laboratories (Maison-Alfort, France). Rats were kept on a 12 hours light/dark cycle (0700-1900). The temperature was maintained at 22° C., and food and water were provided ad libitum.

3.1.3 Collagen Induced Arthritis (CIA)

One day before the experiment, CII solution (2 mg/mL) was prepared with 0.05 M acetic acid and stored at 4° C. Just before the immunization, equal volumes of adjuvant (IFA) and CII were mixed by a homogenizer in a pre-cooled glass bottle in an ice water bath. Extra adjuvant and prolonged homogenization might be required if an emulsion is not formed. 0.2 mL of the emulsion was injected intradermally at the base of the tail of each rat on day 1, a second booster intradermal injection (CII solution at 2 mg/mL in CFA 0.1 mL saline) was performed on day 9. This immunization method was modified from published methods (Sims et al, 2004; Jou et al., 2005).

3.1.4 Study Design

The therapeutic effects of the test compounds were tested in the rat CIA model. Rats were randomly divided into equal groups and each group contained 10 rats. All rats were immunized on day 1 and boosted on day 9. Therapeutic dosing lasted from day 16 to day 30. The negative control group was treated with vehicle (MC 0.5%) and the positive control group with Enbrel (10 mg/kg, 3× week, s.c.). A compound of interest was typically tested at 3 doses, e.g. 3, 10, 30 mg/kg, p.o.

3.1.5 Clinical Assessment of Arthritis

Arthritis was scored according to the method of Khachigian 2006, Lin et al 2007 and Nishida et al. 2004). The swelling of each of the four paws was ranked with the arthritic score as follows: 0—no symptoms; 1—mild, but definite redness and swelling of one type of joint such as the ankle or wrist, or apparent redness and swelling limited to individual digits, regardless of the number of affected digits; 2—moderate redness and swelling of two or more types of joints; 3—severe redness and swelling of the entire paw including digits; 4—maximally inflamed limb with involvement of multiple joints (maximum cumulative clinical arthritis score 16 per animal) (Nishida et al., 2004).

3.1.6 Change in Body Weight (%) after Onset of Arthritis

Clinically, body weight loss is associated with arthritis (Shelton et al., 2005; Argiles et al., 1998; Rall, 2004; Walsmith et al., 2004) Hence, changes in body weight after onset of arthritis could be used as a non-specific endpoint to evaluate the effect of therapeutics in the rat model. The change in body weight (%) after onset of arthritis was calculated as follows:

${Mice}\text{:}\mspace{14mu} \frac{{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 6})}} - {{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 5})}}}{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 5})}} \times 100\%$ ${Rats}\text{:}\mspace{14mu} \frac{{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 4})}} - {{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 3})}}}{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 3})}} \times 100\%$

3.1.7 Radiology

X-ray photos were taken of the hind paws of each individual animal. A random blind identity number was assigned to each of the photos, and the severity of bone erosion was ranked by two independent scorers with the radiological Larsen's score system as follows: 0—normal with intact bony outlines and normal joint space; 1—slight abnormality with any one or two of the exterior metatarsal bones showing slight bone erosion; 2—definite early abnormality with any three to five of the exterior metatarsal bones showing bone erosion; 3—medium destructive abnormality with all the exterior metatarsal bones as well as any one or two of the interior metatarsal bones showing definite bone erosions; 4—severe destructive abnormality with all the metatarsal bones showing definite bone erosion and at least one of the inner metatarsal joints completely eroded leaving some bony joint outlines partly preserved; 5—mutilating abnormality without bony outlines. This scoring system is a modification from Salvemini et al., 2001; Bush et al., 2002; Sims et al., 2004; Jou et al., 2005.

3.1.8 Histology

After radiological analysis, the hind paws of mice were fixed in 10% phosphate-buffered formalin (pH 7.4), decalcified with rapid bone decalcifiant for fine histology (Laboratories Eurobio) and embedded in paraffin. To ensure extensive evaluation of the arthritic joints, at least four serial sections (5 μm thick) were cut and each series of sections were 100 μm in between. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Histologic examinations for synovial inflammation and bone and cartilage damage were performed double blind. In each paw, four parameters were assessed using a four-point scale. The parameters were cell infiltration, pannus severity, cartilage erosion and bone erosion. Scoring was performed as follows: 1-normal, 2-mild, 3-moderate, 4-marked. These four scores were summed together and represented as an additional score, namely the ‘RA total score’.

3.1.9 Micro-Computed Tomography (μCT) Analysis of Calcaneus (Heel Bone):

Bone degradation observed in RA occurs especially at the cortical bone and can be revealed by μCT analysis (Sims N A et al., 2004; Oste L et al., ECTC Montreal 2007). After scanning and 3D volume reconstruction of the calcaneus bone, bone degradation was measured as the number of discrete objects present per slide, isolated in silico perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bone. The more the bone that was degraded, the more discrete objects that were measured. 1000 slices, evenly distributed along the calcaneus (spaced by about 10.8 μm), are analyzed.

3.1.10 Results

Compound 176 was efficacious in all readouts performed in the rat CIA study. Statistical significance is obtained for 3 mg/kg in the clinical score and paw swelling readouts. Selected additional compounds were also tested in the rat CIA study, Compound 36 was active at 30 mg/kg, Compound 37 was active at 10 mg/kg.

Example 3.2 Septic Shock Model

Injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces a rapid release of soluble tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) into the periphery. This model is used to analyse prospective blockers of TNF release in vivo.

Six BALB/cJ female mice (20 g) per group were treated at the intended dosing once, po. Thirty minutes later, LPS (15 μg/kg; E. Coli serotype 0111:B4) was injected ip. Ninety minutes later, mice were euthanized and blood was collected. Circulating TNF alpha levels were determined using commercially available ELISA kits. Dexamethasone (5 μg/kg) was used as a reference anti-inflammatory compound. Selected compounds are tested at one or multiple doses, e.g. 3 and/or 10 and/or 30 mg/kg, po.

Compound 176 exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the TNF release (>50%) at 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg po.

Selected additional compounds were also tested in the septic shock model, Compound 36 was active at 30 mg/kg, Compounds 37 and 197 were active at 3 mg/kg,

Example 3.3 MAB Model

The MAB model allows a rapid assessment of the modulation of an RA-like inflammatory response by therapeutics (Kachigian L M. Nature Protocols (2006) 2512-2516: Collagen antibody-induced arthritis). DBA/J mice were injected i.v. with a cocktail of mAbs directed against collagen II. One day later, compound treatment was initiated (vehicle: 10% (v/v) HPβCD). Three days later, mice received an i.p. LPS injection (50 μg/mouse), resulting in a fast onset of inflammation. Compound treatment was continued until 10 days after the mAb injection. Inflammation was read by measuring paw swelling and recording the clinical score of each paw. The cumulative clinical arthritis score of four limbs was presented to show the severity of inflammation. A scoring system is applied to each limb using a scale of 0-4, with 4 being the most severe inflammation.

-   -   0 Symptom free     -   1 Mild, but definite redness and swelling of one type of joint         such as the ankle or wrist, or apparent redness and swelling         limited to individual digits, regardless of the number of         affected digits     -   2 Moderate redness and swelling of two or more types of joints     -   3 Severe redness and swelling of the entire paw including digits     -   4 Maximally inflamed limb with involvement of multiple joints

Compound 176, dosed p.o. at 10 and 30 mg/kg reduced the clinical score with statistical significance at 30 mg/kg and significantly reduced inflammation at both 10 and 30 mg/kg doses.

Selected additional compounds were also tested in the MAB model, Compounds 36 and 37 were active at 30 mg/kg.

Example 3.4 Oncology Models

In vivo models to validate efficacy of small molecules towards JAK2-driven myeloproliferative diseases are described by Wernig et al. Cancer Cell 13, 311, 2008 and Geron et al. Cancer Cell 13, 321, 2008.

Example 3.5 Mouse IBD Model

In vitro and in vivo models to validate efficacy of small molecules towards IBD are described by Wirtz et al. 2007.

Example 3.6 Mouse Asthma Model

In vitro and in vivo models to validate efficacy of small molecules towards asthma are described by Nials et al., 2008; Ip et al. 2006; Pernis et al., 2002; Kudlacz et al., 2008.

Example 4 Toxicity, DMPK and Safety Models Example 4.1 Thermodynamic Solubility

A solution of 1 mg/mL of the test compound is prepared in a 0.2M phosphate buffer pH7.4 or a 0.1M citrate buffer pH3.0 at room temperature in a glass vial.

The samples are rotated in a Rotator drive STR 4 (Stuart Scientific, Bibby) at speed 3.0 at room temperature for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, 800 μL of the sample is transferred to an eppendorf tube and centrifuged 5 min at 14000 rpm. 200 μL of the supernatant of the sample is then transferred to a MultiscreenR Solubility Plate (Millipore, MSSLBPC50) and the supernatant is filtered (10-12″ Hg) with the aid of a vacuum manifold into a clean Greiner polypropylene V-bottom 96 well plate (Cat no. 651201). 5 μL of the filtrate is diluted into 95 μL (F20) of the same buffer used to incubate in the plate containing the standard curve (Greiner, Cat no. 651201).

The standard curve for the compound is prepared freshly in DMSO starting from a 10 mM DMSO stock solution diluted factor 2 in DMSO (5000 μM) and then further diluted in DMSO up to 19.5 μM. 3 μL of the dilution series as from 5000 μM is then transferred to a 97 μL acetonitrile-buffer mixture (50/50). The final concentration range is 2.5 to 150 μM.

The plate is sealed with sealing mats (MA96RD-04S, www.kinesis.co.uk) and samples are measured at room temperature on LCMS (ZQ 1525 from Waters) under optimized conditions using Quanoptimize to determine the appropriate mass of the molecule.

The samples are analyzed on LCMS with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Solvent A is 15 mM ammonia and solvent B is acetonitrile. The sample is run under positive ion spray on an XBridge C18 3.5 μM (2.1×30 mm) column, from Waters. The solvent gradient has a total run time of 2 minutes and ranges from 5% B to 95% B.

Peak areas are analyzed with the aid of Masslynx software package and peak areas of the samples are plotted against the standard curve to obtain the solubility of the compound.

Solubility values are reported in μM or μg/mL.

Example 4.2 Aqueous Solubility

Starting from a 10 mM stock in DMSO, a serial dilution of the compound is prepared in DMSO. The dilution series is transferred to a 96 NUNC Maxisorb plate F-bottom (Cat no. 442404) and 0.2M phosphate buffer pH7.4 or 0.1M citrate buffer pH3.0 at room temperature is added.

The final concentration ranged from 200 μM to 2.5 μM in 5 equal dilution steps. The final DMSO concentration did not exceed 2%. 200 μM Pyrene is added to the corner points of each 96 well plate and serves as a reference point for calibration of Z-axis on the microscope.

The assay plates are sealed and incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. while shaking at 230 rpm. The plates are then scanned under a white light microscope, yielding individual pictures of the precipitate per concentration. The precipitate is analyzed and converted into a number which is plotted onto a graph. The first concentration at which the compound appears completely dissolved is the concentration reported, however the true concentration lies somewhere between this concentration and one dilution step higher.

Solubility values are reported in μg/mL

Example 4.3 Plasma Protein Binding (Equilibrium Dialysis)

A 10 mM stock solution of the compound in DMSO is diluted with a factor 5 in DMSO. This solution is further diluted in freshly thawed human, rat, mouse or dog plasma (BioReclamation INC) with a final concentration of 10 μM and final DMSO concentration of 0.5% (5.5 μl in 1094.5 μl plasma in a PP-Masterblock 96 well (Greiner, Cat no. 780285))

A Pierce Red Device plate with inserts (ThermoScientific, Cat no. 89809) is prepared and filled with 750 μL PBS in the buffer chamber and 500 μL of the spiked plasma in the plasma chamber. The plate is incubated for 4 hours at 37° C. while shaking at 230 rpm. After incubation, 120 μL of both chambers is transferred to 360 μL acetonitrile in a 96-well round bottom, PP deep-well plates (Nunc, Cat no. 278743) and sealed with an aluminum foil lid. The samples are mixed and placed on ice for 30 min. This plate is then centrifuged 30 mm at 1200 rcf at 4° C. and the supernatant is transferred to a 96 v-bottom PP plate (Greiner, 651201) for analysis on LCMS.

The plate is sealed with sealing mats (MA96RD-04S) of www.kinesis.co.uk and samples are measured at room temperature on LCMS (ZQ 1525 from Waters) under optimized conditions using Quanoptimize to determine the appropriate mass of the molecule.

The samples are analyzed on LCMS with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Solvent A was 15 mM ammonia and solvent B was acetonitrile. The sample was run under positive ion spray on an XBridge C18 3.5 μM (2.1×30 mm) column, from Waters. The solvent gradient has a total run time of 2 minutes and ranges from 5% B to 95% B.

Peak area from the compound in the buffer chamber and the plasma chamber were considered to be 100% compound. The percentage bound to plasma was derived from these results and was reported to the LIMS as percentage bound to plasma.

The solubility of the compound in the final test concentration in PBS was inspected by microscope to indicate whether precipitation is observed or not.

Example 4.4 Liability for QT Prolongation

Potential for QT prolongation was assessed in the hERG patch clamp assay.

4.4.1 Conventional Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed using an EPC10 amplifier controlled by Pulse v8.77 software (HEKA). Series resistance was typically less than 10 MΩ and compensated by greater than 60%, recordings were not leak subtracted. Electrodes were manufactured from GC150TF pipette glass (Harvard), resistance was between 2 and 3 MΩ.

The external bathing solution contained: 135 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1.8 mM CaCl₂, 5 mM Glucose, 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4.

The internal patch pipette solution contained: 100 mM Kgluconate, 20 mM KCl, 1 mM CaCl₂, 1 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM Na₂ATP, 2 mM Glutathione, 11 mM EGTA, 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.2.

Drugs were perfused using a Biologic MEV-9/EVH-9 rapid perfusion system.

All recordings were performed on HEK293 cells stably expressing hERG channels. Cells were cultured on 12 mm round coverslips (German glass, Bellco) anchored in the recording chamber using two platinum rods (Goodfellow). hERG currents were evoked using an activating pulse to +40 mV for 1000 ms followed by a tail current pulse to −50 mV for 2000 ms, holding potential was −80 mV. Pulses were applied every 20 s and all experiments were performed at room temperature.

4.4.2 Data Analysis

IC₅₀ and IC₂₀ values were calculated for each compound tested. The fold difference between the IC₂₀ and the unbound C_(max) concentrations of the test compound obtained at relevant therapeutic doses as determined by results obtained from the rat CIA model was calculated.

For the concentration response curves, peak tail current amplitude was measured during the voltage step to −50 mV. Curve-fitting of concentration-response data was performed using the equation:

y=a+[(b−a)/(1+10̂((log c−x)d)]

where a is minimum response, b is maximum response and d is Hill slope, this equation can be used to calculate both IC₅₀ (where y=50 and c is the IC₅₀ value) and IC₂₀ (where y=20 and c is the IC₂₀ value). GraphPad® Prism® (Graphpad® Software Inc.) software was used for all curve fitting.

Table IX below summarises the results obtained for the selected compounds that were tested.

TABLE IX Compound Dose Fold difference 37 10 7 176 3 137 176 10 82

A difference of 100 fold or greater indicates a low potential for QT prolongation. Therefore it can be seen that compared to Compound 37, Compound 176 has a much lower potential QT prolongation issue.

Example 4.5 Microsomal Stability

A 10 mM stock solution of compound in DMSO was diluted 1000 fold in a 182 mM phosphate buffer pH7.4 in a 96 deep well plate (Greiner, Cat no. 780285) and pre-incubated at 37° C.

40 μL of deionised water was added to a well of a polypropylene Matrix 2D barcode labelled storage tube (Thermo Scientific) and pre-incubated at 37° C.

A Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PDH) working stock solution was prepared in 182 mM phosphate buffer pH7.4 and placed on ice before use. A co-factor containing MgCl₂, glucose-6-phosphate and NADP+ was prepared in deionised water and placed on ice before use.

A final working solution containing liver microsomes (Xenotech) of a species of interest (human, mouse, rat, dog), previously described G6PDH and co-factors was prepared and this mix was incubated for no longer than 20 minutes at room temperature.

30 μL of the pre-heated compound dilution was added to 40 μL of pre-heated water in the Matrix tubes and 30 μL of the microsomal mix was added. Final reaction concentrations were 3 μM compound, 1 mg microsomes, 0.4 U/mL GDPDH, 3.3 mM MgCl₂, 3.3 mM glucose-6-phosphate and 1.3 mM NADP+.

To measure percentage remaining of compound at time zero MeOH or ACN was added (1:1) to the well before adding the microsomal mix. The plates were sealed with Matrix Sepra Seals™ (Matrix, Cat. No. 4464) and shaken for a few seconds ensure complete mixing of all components.

The samples which were not stopped are incubated at 37° C., 300 rpm and after 1 hour of incubation the reaction was stopped with MeOH or ACN (1:1).

After stopping the reaction the samples were mixed and placed on ice for 30 min to precipitate the proteins. The plates were then centrifuged 30 min at 1200 rcf at 4° C. and the supernatant was transferred to a 96 v-bottom PP plate (Greiner, 651201) for analysis on LCMS.

These plates were sealed with sealing mats (MA96RD-04S) of www.kinesis.co.uk and samples were measured at room temperature on LCMS (ZQ 1525 from Waters) under optimized conditions using Quanoptimize to determine the appropriate mass of the parent molecule.

The samples were analyzed on LCMS with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Solvent A was 15 mM ammonia and solvent B was methanol or acetonitrile, depending on the stop solution used. The samples were run under positive ion spray on an XBridge C18 3.5 μM (2.1×30 mm) column, from Waters. The solvent gradient had a total run time of 2 minutes and ranges from 5% B to 95% B.

Peak area from the parent compound at time 0 was considered to be 100% remaining. The percentage remaining after 1 hour incubation was calculated from time 0 and was calculated as the percentage remaining. The solubility of the compound in the final test concentration in buffer is inspected by microscope and results are reported.

The data on microsomal stability are expressed as a percentage of the total amount of compound remaining after 60 minutes.

TABLE X Microsomal stability Compound # Human (%) Rat (%) 12 70 94 15 43 14 36 11.65 72.41 37 70.98 79.47 57 42.75 34.5 72 4.88 2.2 78 78.21 93.85 92 30.21 23.6 163 53.64 39.78 176 157.1 90.21 182 19.33 19.23 190 2.13 25.64 192 127.2 77.62 197 46.6 59.41 198 65.8 72.45

Example 4.6 Caco2 Permeability

Bi-directional Caco-2 assays were performed as described below. Caco-2 cells were obtained from European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC, cat 86010202) and used after a 21 day cell culture in 24-well Transwell plates (Fisher TKT-545-020B).

2×10⁵ cells/well were seeded in plating medium consisting of DMEM+GlutaMAXI+1% NEAA+10% FBS (FetalClone II)+1% Pen/Strep. The medium was changed every 2-3 days.

Test and reference compounds (propranolol and rhodamine 123 or vinblastine, all purchased from Sigma) were prepared in Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution containing 25 mM HEPES (pH7.4) and added to either the apical (125 μL) or basolateral (600 μL) chambers of the Transwell plate assembly at a concentration of 10 μM with a final DMSO concentration of 0.25%.

50 μM Lucifer Yellow (Sigma) was added to the donor buffer in all wells to assess integrity of the cell layers by monitoring Lucifer Yellow permeation. As Lucifer Yellow (LY) cannot freely permeate lipophilic barriers, a high degree of LY transport indicates poor integrity of the cell layer.

After a 1 hour incubation at 37° C. while shaking at an orbital shaker at 150 rpm, 70 μL aliquots were taken from both apical (A) and basal (B) chambers and added to 100 μL1 50:50 acetonitrile:water solution containing analytical internal standard (0.5 μM carbamazepine) in a 96 well plate.

Lucifer yellow was measured with a Spectramax Gemini XS (Ex 426 nm and Em 538 nm) in a clean 96 well plate containing 150 μL of liquid from basolateral and apical side.

Concentrations of compound in the samples were measured by high performance liquid-chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS).

Apparent permeability (P_(app)) values were calculated from the relationship:

P _(app)=[compound]_(acceptor final) ×V _(acceptor)/([compound]_(donor initial) ×V _(donor))/T _(inc) ×V _(donor)/surface area×60×10⁻⁶ cm/s

V=chamber volume

T_(inc)=incubation time.

Surface area=0.33 cm²

The Efflux ratios, as an indication of active efflux from the apical cell surface, were calculated using the ratio of P_(app) B>A/P_(app) A>B.

The following assay acceptance criteria were used:

Propranolol: P_(app) (A>B) value ≧20 (×10⁻⁶ cm/s)

Rhodamine 123 or Vinblastine: P_(app) (A>B) value <5 (×10⁻⁶ cm/s) with Efflux ratio ≧5.

Lucifer yellow permeability: ≦100 nm/s

TABLE XI Caco2 Efflux rate P_(app) A > B Compound # (×10−6 cm/sec) Efflux ratio 12 23.3 0.82 15 25.8 0.91 36 36.55 0.89 37 23 0.85 72 14.93 1.31 78 2 1.5 163 13.4 0.85 176 10.6 0.8 192 12.5 2

Example 4.7 Pharmacokinetic Study in Rodents 4.7.1 Pharmacokinetic Study

Compounds are formulated in PEG200/physiological saline or PEG400/DMSO/physiological saline mixtures for the intravenous route and in 0.5% methylcellulose or 10-30% hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrine pH3 or pH7.4 for the oral route. Test compounds are orally dosed as a single esophageal gavage at 5-10 mg/kg and intravenously dosed as a bolus via the caudal vein at 1 mg/kg. Each group consists of 3 rats. Blood samples are collected either via the jugular vein using cannulated rats or at the retro-orbital sinus with lithium heparin as anti-coagulant at the time points in the following range: 0.05 to 8 hours (intravenous route), and 0.25 to 6 or 24 hours (oral route). Whole blood samples are centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 min and the resulting plasma samples are stored at −20° C. pending analysis.

4.7.2 Quantification of Compound Levels in Plasma

Plasma concentrations of each test compound are determined by an LC-MS/MS method in which the mass spectrometer is operated in positive electrospray mode.

4.7.3 Determination of Pharmacokinetic Parameters

Pharmacokinetic parameters are calculated using Winnonlin® (Pharsight®, United

Example 4.8 7-Day Rat Toxicity Study

A 7-day oral toxicity study with test compounds was performed in Sprague-Dawley male rats to assess their toxic potential and toxicokinetics, at daily doses of 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg/day, by gavage, at the constant dosage-volume of 5 mL/kg/day.

The test compounds were formulated in 30% (v/v) HPβCD in purified water. Each group included 5 principal male rats as well as 3 satellite animals for toxicokinetics. A fourth group was given 30% (v/v) HPβCD in water only, at the same frequency, dosage volume and by the same route of administration, and acted as the vehicle control group.

The goal of the study was to determine the lowest dose that resulted in no adverse events being identified (no observable adverse effect level—NOAEL). Compounds 37 and 176 were tested in this protocol.

The NOAEL levels for Compounds 37 and 176 were both estimated at 500 mg/kg.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing descriptions are exemplary and explanatory in nature, an as indiced intended to illustrate the invention and its preferred embodiments. Through routine experimentation, an artisan will recognise apparent modifications and variations that may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the invention is intended to be defined not by the above description, but by the following claims and their equivalents.

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All publications, including but not limited to patents and patent applications, cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as though fully set forth.

From the foregoing description, various modifications and changes in the compositions and methods of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included therein.

It should be understood that factors such as the differential cell penetration capacity of the various compounds can contribute to discrepancies between the activity of the compounds in the in vitro biochemical and cellular assays.

At least some of the chemical names of compounds of the invention as given and set forth in this application, may have been generated on an automated basis by use of a commercially available chemical naming software program, and have not been independently verified. Representative programs performing this function include the Lexichem naming tool sold by Open Eye Software, Inc. and the Autonom Software tool sold by MDL, Inc. In the instance where the indicated chemical name and the depicted structure differ, the depicted structure will control.

Chemical structures shown herein were prepared using either ChemDraw® or ISIS®/DRAW. Any open valency appearing on a carbon, oxygen or nitrogen atom in the structures herein indicates the presence of a hydrogen atom. Where a chiral center exists in a structure but no specific stereochemistry is shown for the chiral center, both enantiomers associated with the chiral structure are encompassed by the structure. 

1. A compound according to Formula VIa:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2, wherein the carrier is a parenteral carrier.
 4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2, wherein the carrier is an oral carrier.
 5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2, wherein the carrier is a topical carrier.
 6. A method of treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection), comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 7. A method of treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of proliferative diseases, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the condition is selected from diseases involving a method of the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes.
 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the condition is selected from psoriatic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, septic or infectious arthritis, reactive arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, algodystrophy, Tietze syndrome or costal chondritis, fibromyalgia, osteochondritis, neurogenic or neuropathic arthritis, arthropathy, endemic forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis deformans endemica, Mseleni disease and Handigodu disease; degeneration resulting from fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis.
 10. A method of treatment or prophylaxis of a disease involving degradation of cartilage, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 11. A method of treatment or prevention of osteoarthritis, comprising administering to a subject, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 12. A method of treatment or prevention of a condition or a disease involving inflammation, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 13. A method of treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of diseases involving cartilage degradation, bone and/or joint degradation, for example osteoarthritis; and/or conditions involving inflammation or immune responses, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airways disease (e.g. asthma, rhinitis), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgery or chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiac failure), diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover (e.g. diseases involving the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes), congenital cartilage malformations, diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 and transplantation rejection (e.g. organ transplant rejection), comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 2. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the condition is selected from diseases involving a method of the anabolic stimulation of chondrocytes.
 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the condition is selected from psoriatic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, septic or infectious arthritis, reactive arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, algodystrophy, Tietze syndrome or costal chondritis, fibromyalgia, osteochondritis, neurogenic or neuropathic arthritis, arthropathy, endemic forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis deformans endemica, Mseleni disease and Handigodu disease; degeneration resulting from fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis.
 16. A method of treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of proliferative diseases, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 2. 17. A method of treatment or prophylaxis of a disease involving degradation of cartilage, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 2. 18. A method of treatment or prevention of osteoarthritis, comprising administering to a subject, a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 2. 19. A method of treatment or prevention of a condition or a disease involving inflammation, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 2. 